ANGOLA, Ind. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball team continued NCAA Regional Tournament play on Saturday against the Penn St.-Behrend Lions in an elimination game. After a four-hour rain delay pushed the afternoon contest into the evening, UW-Eau Claire got out to a fast start and advanced in the tournament with a 3-1 victory.
Sadie Erickson (Jr. – Norwood Young America, MN/Central) got Eau Claire on the scoreboard first with a solo home run over the left center wall for a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Erickson's 7th home run of the season tallied as UW-Eau Claire's first run of the tournament and now ties her for the team lead with Megan Maruna (Jr. – Oswego, IL)
The Blugolds were quick to add to their lead as Haley Lamberson (Jr. – Silver Lake, WI/Wilmont Union) drove Madi Zerr (Jr. – Bristol, WI/Wilmont Union) in from second base on an RBI double after Zerr tallied a double of her own to make it 2-0, UWEC. Lamberson and Zerr both recorded two hits each in their three respective at bats.
Madi Zerr was a dual threat all game with her offensive spark at the plate and her shutdown pitching in the circle. Zerr, who made a short exit and reentry in the fifth inning, went six and two third's innings, retired 19 of the 22 batters faced, and tallied one strikeout and one walk. Zerr is now 8-2 on the year.
Despite giving up the lone Penn St.-Behrend in the fifth, UWEC answered with another RBI double, this time off the bat of Ellie Decker to extend their lead back to two. Megan Maruna found her way across home plate to make it 3-1 for her only run of the game. Maruna was also one of four Blugolds who gathered two hits on the night.
The Blugolds (27-10, WIAC 9-5) will have a quick turnaround for the NCAA Regional Tournament semifinal as the rain delay pushed back game five of the tournament to Sunday, May 15th. UW-Eau Claire will face North Central College (Ill.) at 9AM (CT) to start the day. The winner of the morning matchup will advance to the regional championship to face the hosts, Trine University.
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