NORMAL, Ill. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire baseball team started their 2022 season on the road Saturday with matchups against Carroll University and the Illinois Institute of Technology. Despite trailing halfway into both games, the Blugolds rallied back in the late innings twice to start their season 2-0.
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
UW-Eau Claire opened the first game of the season against the Carroll Pioneers on the right note as Nate Witte (So. – Woodbury, MN/East Ridge) doubled to right field as the second batter in the lineup. Otto Treichel (Jr. – Madison, WI/West) followed suit with a double into left center to score Witte and give UWEC a 1-0 lead.
The Pioneers answered in the bottom of the first with a sacrifice fly to center field to tie the game at 1-1. Charley Griffin (Jr. – River Falls, WI) pitched six total innings and only allowed five hits, three runs, and tallied six strikeouts to start his 2022 season.
Witte continued to lead the Blugolds at the plate in the 8th with a 2-run homerun to left field to tie the game at 3-3. Five batters later with the bases loaded, Diego Caicedo (Fr. – Pompano Beach, FL/Northeast) reached first on a throwing error allowing Walter Johnson (Fr. – Minnetonka, MN) to score and regain the Eau Claire lead. Nate Witte sealed the deal in the 9th with a single to left field, scoring David Janssen (So. – Lino Lakes, MN/Centennial)on a catcher's throwing error for the 5-3 victory.
Xavier Estrada (Fr. – Bonita Springs, FL) came into the game to relieve Griffin in the 7th and tallied his first collegiate win (1-0) with two hits, zero runs, and two strikeouts. Will Girardi (Fr. – Mackinaw, IL/Dee-Mack) gathered the 9th inning save.
In game 2, the Blugolds found themselves behind the eight ball early as Illinois Tech rattled off four runs in the first five innings for a 4-0 UWEC deficit. Drew Salyers (Fr. – Centennial, CO/Arapahoe) got UW-Eau Claire into a rhythm in the 5th with a double to left field that allowed Scott Richards (So. – Orland Park, IL/Carl Sandberg) to score from second. Salyers went on to steal third and then tallied a run of his own on an error by the catcher to cut the lead to 4-2.
The heroics were saved for the final inning as the Blugolds faced the two-run deficit with two outs and nobody on. Cade Mueller (So. – Coal City, IL) got things going by reaching first on an error and then advanced to second after a Drew Salyers singled to right field. A balk by the pitcher and a ball thrown into David Janssen allowed for the bases to be loaded with Nate Witte up to bat. Witte continued his hot streak with a single to left that scored two and tied the game at 4-4.
After walking Otto Treichel, the bases were loaded for the pinch hitter, Jacob Lacy (Sr. – Shawano, WI). Lacy was patient in the box and connected on the pitch he wanted for a stinger to the right side at the second baseman. The Scarlet Hawk fielder failed to handle the exchange allowing Lacy to get to first and Janssen to score for a walk off 5-4 win.
Four Blugold pitchers got their season debut in game 2 as Matt Moore (So. – Stillwater, MN), Anthony Scimone (Fr. – Chicago, IL/Lane Tech), Brennan Cohen (Fr. – Vestavia Hills, AL), and Cole Hinkel (Fr. – Shoreview, MN/Mounds View) totaled nine innings, 11 hits, four runs, and 11 strikeouts. Hinkel pitched the final two outs of the 9th inning to receive his first collegiate win (1-0).
The Blugolds (2-0, WIAC 0-0) will be back on the road on Thursday, March 5th when they travel to Minneapolis, Minn. to face Carleton College (Minn.) at U.S. Bank Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 5PM.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
