ROCHESTER, Minn. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball team added two more wins on Sunday, defeating Gustavus Adolphus 7-2 and St. Catherine 3-1 at the RCTC Dome.
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
In their first game against Gustavus, the Blugolds jumped out to an early lead, plating 3 runs in the top of the first, two of which were scored on doubles by Abbey Place (So. – Naperville, IL/Central) and Gretchen Arneson (Jr. – Chippewa Falls, WI/Chi-Hi).
Eau Claire would tally two more in the third and one run in the fourth and sixth innings to cruise to the 7-2 win.
Place led the Blugolds at the plate, going 3-for-3 with three doubles while Morgan Sivak (So. – Oconomowoc, WI) earned the win in the circle, scattering four hits in 3.1 innings. Madison Morris (So. – Caledonia, IL/North Boone) struck out four in three innings of work and Jackie Carlucci (Fr. – Elk Grove Village, IL/James B. Conant) struck out the two batters she faced in the bottom of the seventh.
In game two against St. Catherine, the Blugolds again scored first, this time an Arneson single to centerfield to score Katie Rongstad (Jr. – Slinger, WI).
Arneson struck again in the third with an RBI double while Jessica Heffel's (Sr. – Racine, WI/Case) RBI single in the fourth gave the Blugolds a 3-0 lead.
The Wildcats would make things interesting in the seventh. After retiring the first batter, St. Catherine recorded three consecutive doubles to score a run and cut into the Blugold lead. After an intentional walk to load the bases, Sarah Peka (Jr. – Chanhassen, MN/Minnetonka) got a flyout and strikeout to end the game and secure Eau Claire's fourth win of the season.
Peka went the distance for the Blugolds, striking out six. Arneson finished the game 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Arneson and Place both finished the weekend 7-for-11 (.636) with six and four RBIs, respectively.
The Blugolds (4-0) will be back on the road for a doubleheader with Augustana (IL) on Saturday, March 16 at 1 and 3 p.m. Follow the action on Blugold Game Day or on the 'UWEC Blugolds' app' on your mobile device.