Softball tallies 21 hits in split with Titans

Photo by Shane Opatz, UWEC Photo
Photo by Shane Opatz, UWEC Photo

OSHKOSH, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball team traveled to Oshkosh on Saturday, taking game 6-2 over the Titans before falling in the nightcap, 11-9.

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

The Blugolds never trailed in game one after taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning. They would tack on two more runs in the second and fifth.

Sadie Erickson (Fr. – St. Paul, MN/North) led the Blugold offense, going 3-for-4 with one run and an RBI. Katelyn Yute (Sr. – North Prairie, WI/Kettle Moraine) and Megan Maruna (So. – Oswego, IL) each recorded two hits while Maruna also drove in two runs.

Senior hurler Morgan Sivak (Sr. – Oconomowoc, WI) picked up her seventh win of the season (7-3), striking out one and giving up six hits and two runs over four innings.

The second game proved to be a back-and-forth battle, but it was the Titans who rallied for three runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead for good, winning by a score of 11-9.

Eau Claire put up four runs in the second, but Oshkosh would score a run in the second and third and four in the fourth to take a 6-4 lead. Both teams would tally two runs in the fifth and the Blugolds would push three across in the sixth to take a 9-8 lead. But the Titans would not be outdone, scoring three runs of their own to take a 11-9 advantage into the seventh. Eau Claire would continue to fight, getting back-to-back singles with one out. However, a double play would end the game.

Bailee Sillman (Sr. – Chippewa Falls, WI/Chi-Hi) led Eau Claire at the plate in game two, finishing 3-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs while Yute and Maruna would again tally two hits apiece.

Abbey Cook (So. – Woodbury, MN/East Ridge) took the loss for Eau Claire, giving up four hits and striking out one in one inning of relief.

Eau Claire (17-9, 6-2 WIAC) will be back at home on Tuesday as they host UW-Stout (3-14, 0-7 WIAC).  First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. Follow the action on Blugold Game Day.