CLERMONT, Florida (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball team recorded a split on their fourth day of competition in Florida on Tuesday. The Blugolds defeated No. 10 Tufts University (MA) 4-3 and fell to Hope College (MI) 8-0 (5 innings).
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
In the first game of the day against the 10th-ranked Jumbos, both teams got on the board in the first inning. Tufts' run in the top of the first came via homerun to left center, while Eau Claire's Megan Maruna (Jr. – Oswego, IL) singled and later scored on a groundout to tie the game.
In the third, the Blugolds would score twice. Alli Schoenrock (Fr. – Blaine, MN) led off with a single through the left side. Maruna would double to right to advance Schoenrock to third and both would score on the next play thanks to a Jumbo error. Eau Claire would add another unearned run in the fourth to extend their lead to 4-1. Tufts would make things interesting in the top of the seventh, scoring two runs to cut into the Blugold lead, but Eau Claire would come through with the 4-3 victory.
Madi Zerr (Jr. – Bristol, WI/Wilmot Union) earned the win in the circle, giving up one earned run and scattering four hits while striking out two in 4.2 innings. Lauren Gamme (So. – Eagan, MN) earned the save in 2.1 innings with a strikeout, three hits and no earned runs.
Maruna led Eau Claire from the leadoff spot, going 2-for-3 with a double and scored two runs. Maria Back (Sr. – Rosemount, MN) hit her second triple of the season while Haley Lamberson (Jr. – Silver Lake, WI/Wilmot Union) drove in two runs.
The Blugold offense struggled in game two against Hope, with Maruna collecting the only Eau Claire hit in the third inning. Defensively the Blugolds also committed a season-high four errors while giving up nine hits to the Flying Dutch.
Eau Claire (9-3) is set to play two more games on Thursday, with game one at 1 PM vs. Grinnell (IA) and game two at 3:15 PM vs. Carleton (MN).
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