WHITEWATER, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball team opened their first game of the 2023 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Tournament on Thursday afternoon. As the 6th seed, UW-Eau Claire faced off with the 3-seed UW-La Crosse Eagles in the first round of the double elimination tournament. Despite finding the games first tally and forcing six UWL errors, the Blugolds gave up five runs in the final three innings during the 6-2 defeat.
As the Blugolds took the field for the first time in a week, the playoff atmosphere was at an all time high with a familiar opponent across the diamond. Like their previous meeting with the Eagles, UWEC found the contest's first lead. Paige Lathrop (Fr. – South Milwaukee, Wis.) gave the Blugolds the advantage in the top of the second inning on a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Haley Lamberson (Sr. – Silver Lake, Wis./Wilmot Union) from third base for a 1-0 lead. After the two-hit half inning, UWL answered with two hits and a single run of their own in the bottom of the 2nd to tie the game at 1-1.
After a scoreless third, UW-Eau Claire found themselves with their first deficit of the game in the bottom of the fourth as the Eagles capitalized on a UWEC error, a fielder's choice, and a single to put the Blugolds behind 4-1.
UW-Eau Claire capitalized on errors as well during the very next inning as Paige Lathrop crossed home after an error by UWL to cut the deficit to 4-2. The Blugolds would be held from the scoreboard from that point forward as La Crosse added one run in the fifth and sixth innings to seal the 6-2 final.
Salena Jeanson (Jr. – St. Paul, Minn./North St. Paul) led the Blugolds from the plate with one double and one single during her two at bats, one of which set up Lamberson to earn UWEC's first run.
The Blugolds (17-18, WIAC 6-8) will continue WIAC Tournament play on Friday, May 12th as they face off with UW-Stevens Point. First pitch from the van Steenderen Softball Complex in Whitewater is set for 9AM.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
