By: Jake Krier, UWEC Sports Information
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) - For the third series this week, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball team took to Bollinger Field, and as with the previous two matchups, the Blugolds left with a split. On Saturday, Eau Claire got a dominant pitching performance out of Sarah Peka (So.-Chanhassen, MN/Minnetonka) in game one with a 2-0 shutout. Saturday's opponent, UW-Whitewater, won game two by a score of 6-2.
Just as she did on Wednesday, Peka blanked the opposition in a complete game effort. Against the Warhawks, the sophomore allowed only three hits and struck out six. She helped her own cause at the plate, too. Peka drove in both Blugold runs in the second inning with a single up the middle. This was one of just five hits from the Eau Claire bats, and Abbey Place (Fr.-Naperville, IL/Naperville Central) led the way with a 2-for-3 tick with one run scored.
The blue and gold were limited to four hits in the second game and two runs yet again. This time, though, Whitewater was able to manufacture six runs against the combination of Stephanie Wilczynski (So.-Naperville, IL/Waubonsie Valley) and Cheyenne Johnson (So.-Poplar, WI/Northwestern). Tessa Dachel (So.-Chippewa Falls, WI/Chi-Hi) picked up both RBIs, hitting 1-for-3 in the defeat.
The Blugolds return to Bollinger on Sunday when they host UW-Oshkosh beginning at noon.
Follow the action all season long on Blugold Game Day.
