Eau Claire opens conference play with sweep of UW-Platteville

Eau Claire opens conference play with sweep of UW-Platteville

By: Jake Krier, UWEC Sports Information

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. (blugolds.com) - With the weather finally cooperating, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball team returned to the field on Sunday against the UW-Platteville Pioneers. The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) season could not have gotten to a better start for the Blugolds, as they took two from the Pioneers by scores of 7-2 and 5-1.

Sarah Peka (So.-Chanhassen, MN/Minnetonka) earned her seventh win of the season, tossing a complete game in the 7-2 victory. In a surprising turn, though, Peka contributed with the bat. In her first at-bats of the season, the sophomore boasted an impressive 3-for-3 mark at the plate, including two doubles while also driving in two runs. She did this from the 9-hole in the lineup.

Also impressive from the bottom third of the batting order was Abbey Place (Fr.-Naperville, IL/Naperville Central), who went 2-for-3 with two RBIs in the 7-slot. The Blugolds earned their runs by scoring twice in the second, sixth, and seventh innings while adding one more in the third.

In game two, eight Eau Claire hitters combined for twelve total hits in the win. Katie Rongstad (So.-Slinger, WI) and Mikayla McEnery (Fr.-Savage, MN/Prior Lake) picked up a half dozen of those hits with three each from the top of the order.

Pitching a gem was Cheyenne Johnson (So.-Poplar, WI/Northwestern). Her line was eight strikeouts, one walk, one earned run and seven hits across her complete game effort.

The Blugolds will look to improve upon their 2-0 start in the WIAC when they have their home opener, scheduled for Thursday, April 12 against UW-Stout. The doubleheader is set to begin at 4:00 p.m.

Follow the action all season long on Blugold Game Day.