WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball team began play down in central Florida on Sunday with two non conference games during The Spring Games. The Blugolds came out hot with three homeruns in their 6-1 victory over St. Kate's, but fell short to No. 15 Tufts University in 6 innings, 11-2.
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
In their first game outside of the year, UW-Eau Claire got a jump start in their opening game against St. Catherine. Backed by stellar pitching from Lauren Gamme (Jr. – Eagan, Minn.), UWEC found the first tally of the day in the top of the second inning on a two-run homerun from Ali Schoenrock (So. – Blaine, Minn.). Schoenrock's first career home run gave Eau Claire a 2-0 lead and brought Hailey Hagedorn (Fr. – Farmington, Minn.) around home plate after Hagedorn took a walk during the lead off at bat.
After a single up the middle from the St. Kate's Wildcats in the bottom of the second, Madi Zerr (Sr. – Bristol, Wis./Wilmot Union) flew a ball high over the right field fence to increase the Blugold lead to 4-1. Megan Maruna (Sr. – Oswego, Ill.) trotted around the bases before Zerr after recording a single and a stolen base the previous at bat. Ali Schoenrock added to the lead an inning later on a double steal play with Kenna Strunsee (So. – Waukesha, Wis./South) being called out at second. Strunsee's designed sacrifice allowed Schoenrock time to sprint down the baseline and cross home plate.
The final run of the game came off the hot bat of Megan Maruna as the Illinois native blasted her third home run of the season past the right field fence to seal the 6-1 lead for UWEC.
Lauren Gamme stood strong in the six innings she pitched allowing only one run and two hits in 26 batters faced. Jacie Schultz (So. – Lake Crystal, Minn./Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial) to the mound in the seventh and retired all three batters she faced. Gamme earned her second win of the year and is now 2-1 on the season.
The second game of the day for UW-Eau Claire found some momentum carried over from the game before as the Blugolds faced off with the Tufts University Jumbos. In the bottom of the first, Megan Maruna ripped her fourth home run of the year over the left field fence to gain a 1-0 lead in favor of UWEC. The Jumbos answered back in the second and third with an RBI single and a sacrifice fly to earn their first lead of the day. A half inning later, Madi Zerr singled to left field allowing Paige Lathrop (Fr. – South Milwaukee, Wis.) to score from first base. Zerr's scoring single cut the Tufts' lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the third inning.
The No. 15 Jumbos found their break in the sixth inning as they rattled off seven runs on seven hits to serve UW-Eau Claire their fifth loss of the season.
The Blugolds (5-5, 0-0 WIAC) will continue play in The Spring Games on Monday, March 20th for another non conference doubleheader. The first game scheduled for 8:00AM(CST) will face UWEC against Kalamazoo College. Following the morning game, UW-Eau Claire will take on Hamilton College at 10:30AM(CST). Both games will be held at the Diamondplex Complex in Winter Haven, Florida.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
