EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball team continued Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play on Wednesday afternoon with UW-River Falls in town. As both teams fought for important wins in the WIAC standings, both games were decided in the seventh inning. UW-Eau Claire's Megan Maruna (Sr. - Oswego, Ill.) and Madi Zerr (Sr. - Bristol, Wis./Wilmot Union) both secured walk-off winning hits as UWEC swept the Falcons 4-3 and 1-0.
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
The Blugolds found an early lead in the first inning as Megan Maruna (Sr. – Oswego, Ill.) ripped an RBI triple into the right field corner to score Haley Lamberson (Sr. – Silver Lakes, Wis./Wilmot Union) from first, giving UW-Eau Claire a 1-0 lead. The Falcons answered the very next half inning on a double steal to tie the game at 1-1.
After two scoreless innings, the Blugolds regained their lead in the fifth inning as Maruna batted in Chloe Garofalo (So. – Kenosha, Wis./Bradford) on a single up the middle for a 2-1 UWEC advantage. UWRF found another immediate answer in the following inning on an RBI single to tie the game at 2-2.
In the bottom of the sixth, Kenna Strunsee (So. – Waukesha, Wis./South) scored from third on a passed ball as Eau Claire took their third lead of the afternoon. The lead was answered once again by the Falcons in the top of the seventh inning on a fielding error by the Blugolds to tie the game at 3-3.
With one out on the board in the bottom of the seventh, Haley Lamberson got on base with a single to center field as Eau Claire looked to finish things off in seven innings. Megan Maruna was the game one hero during the next at bat with a double to right center field, bringing Lamberson across home plate for the 4-3 game one victory.
Jacie Schultz (So. – Lake Crystal, Minn./Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial) earned the win in game one with two innings pitched, ten batters faced, one run surrendered and three strikeouts.
Game two began with a pitchers' duel as the Blugolds and Falcons were scoreless through four innings of play. Madi Zerr (Sr. – Bristol, Wis./Wilmot Union) continued her stellar day from the pitching stripe with six strikeouts in five innings pitched. Zerr finished the day with 12 strikeouts during the doubleheader.
The lock tight defense and pitching brought game two down to the wire with six scoreless innings. After stranding one runner on base in the top of the seventh, Megan Maruna earned a walk to start the bottom half of the inning. Madi Zerr was crowned the hero in game two during the following at bat as she blasted a double into left field to score Maruna from first base and complete the doubleheader sweep with a 1-0 victory.
Jacie Schultz earned the victory in game two with two innings pitched, surrendering two hits, and stranding two UWRF baserunners. With her two wins on the day, Schultz is now 7-5 on the year.
The Blugolds (16-16, WIAC 5-7) will have a quick turn around as they will be back at Bollinger Fields as they faceoff with WIAC opponent, UW-La Crosse for another evening doubleheader. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 4PM.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
