Softball sweeps Titans to remain atop WIAC standings

Softball sweeps Titans to remain atop WIAC standings

OSHKOSH, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball team recorded another conference sweep on Friday, defeating UW-Oshkosh 4-2 and 7-6 to improve to 9-3-1 in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play.

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

The Blugolds outhit the Titans 10-3 in game one, which included two hits from Mikayla McEnery (So.-Savage, MN/Prior Lake), Tessa Dachel (Jr. – Chippewa Falls, WI/Chi-Hi) and Cheyenne Johnson (Jr.-Poplar, WI/Northwestern).

Eau Claire got on the board in the first inning thanks to a sacrifice bunt but Oshkosh took the lead on a two-run homer in the fifth. The score was tied in the sixth on a bases loaded walk and the Blugolds then took the lead on a hit by pitch. In the top of the seventh, Dachel doubled down the right field line to add an insurance run.

Johnson earned her sixth win of the season on the mound, surrendering just one hit in three innings.

In game two, Eau Claire again scored in the top of the first but the Titans came back to take a 6-3 lead heading into the seventh.

In the seventh, Brooke Varian (Sr. – Madison, WI/West) connected for a pinch-hit double down the left field line to get the offense started. McEnery followed with a single while Emma Lehman (Sr.-Brooklyn Park, MN/Champlin Park) walked to load the bases. Gretchen Arneson (Jr. – Chippewa Falls, WI/Chi-Hi) then doubled to score two runs and Dachel came through with an RBI-single. Johnson later hit a sacrifice fly to knock in the go-ahead run. The Blugold defense held in the bottom half of the inning to give Eau Claire their second-straight WIAC sweep.

McEnery finished the game 3-for-3 while Dachel was 2-for-4 with two RBIs to lead Eau Claire.

Four Blugolds saw action in the circle with Jackie Carlucci (Fr. – Elk Grove Village, IL/James B. Conant) getting the win to improve to 3-0 and Johnson picked up her third save of the year.

Eau Claire (23-6-1, 9-2-1) will host UW-Whitewater (24-10, 9-3) on Sunday at 2 and 4 p.m. at Bollinger Field to close out conference play. Follow the Blugolds on Blugold Game Day or on the 'UWEC Blugolds' app' on your mobile device.