OSHKOSH, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball team were back on the road on Friday afternoon for their second Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) series of the season. The Blugolds faced off with the No. 19 ranked UW-Oshkosh Titans during the afternoon doubleheader as they looked to climb the WIAC standings. Despite stranding 12 combined runners all day, UWEC fell in both games to the conference leaders, 2-3 and 0-2.
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
UW-Eau Claire found themselves down early in game one after UWO recorded a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the first inning. Eau Claire kept the Titans quiet for four straight innings after the opening deficit as they trailed 1-0 late into the sixth inning. A second RBI single by Oshkosh extended the UWO lead to 2-0 as both teams entered the final inning.
The Blugolds found their mark early in the final inning at the top of the order after Haley Lamberson (Sr. – Silver Lake, Wis./Wilmot Union) singled up the middle and Megan Maruna (Sr. – Oswego, Ill.) earned a walk. Kenna Strunsee (So. – Waukesha, Wis./South) recorded her first hit of the afternoon on an RBI single through the left side to score Lamberson from second and advance Maruna to second. The very next at bat, Paige Lathrop (Fr. – South Milwaukee, Wis.) hit a sacrifice fly deep into centerfield allowing Maruna to tag up from third and tie the game at 2-2.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Blugolds found the first out of the inning on the second batter as UWO advanced a runner into scoring position on second base. UWEC intentionally walked the next batter to find the opportunity of a double play. The fourth batter of the half inning singled to Paige Lathrop in right field. After gathering the hit, Lathrop rifled the ball home and caught the winning run on a tag by Megan Patterson (So. – Johnsburg, Ill.) at home plate to keep the game tied.
The very next batter, UWO singled to the left side, scoring the runner from third to end the Blugolds' comeback attempt at 2-3.
The second game of the day held a very similar storyline between the WIAC rivals as the first two innings saw one hit by each team and both sides kept scoreless. The Titans would find the first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning on a RBI single up the middle, giving Eau Claire a 1-0 deficit.
The Blugolds kept their defense solid after surrendering the first run of the game by shutting down seven of the eight next Oshkosh batters. In the fifth, the UWEC offense found runners on base after Ali Schoenrock (So. – Blaine, Minn.) was hit by a pitch and Patterson singled to left center field. UWEC found no luck in the inning as Emma Raikowski (Fr. – Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH), who pinch ran for Patterson, was caught stealing at second base to end the inning.
The Titans added another run in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly as Eau Claire combined for one hit and two runners left on base in their final six outs to suffer the 2-0 loss.
On the day, Jacie Schultz (So. – Lake Crystal, Minn.) was served her second and third losses of the season after pitching 6.2 innings and facing 28 batters. From the circle, Schultz combined for two strikeouts, seven hits allowed and three earned runs while stranding six Oshkosh players on base. Schultz is now 4-3 on the year.
The Blugolds (12-12, 1-3 WIAC) will continue WIAC play on Tuesday, April 18th when they faceoff with UW-Whitewater on the road. First pitch from the van Steenderen Complex in Whitewater, Wis. is scheduled for 2PM.
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