OSHKOSH, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire baseball team took back to the ballfield on Tuesday as they traveled to UW-Oshkosh for a doubleheader against the Titans. Despite tallying 22 hits total on the day, Eau Claire fell in the doubleheader series finale, 13-3 and 10-6.
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
The Blugolds were held in check to begin game one as Oshkosh kept UWEC scoreless through six innings. After walking at his plate appearance, Nate Witte (So. – Woodbury, MN/East Ridge) was moved two bases during the following at bats on a single by Ryan Venne (So. – Eau Claire, WI/North) and fly ball by David Janssen (So. – Lino Lakes, MN/Centennial). Chase Yaeger (So. – Black River Falls, WI) drove the outfielder in from third on a grounder to third for the team's first run of the day in the top of the seventh.
Scott Richards (So. – Orland Park, IL/Carl Sandberg) found his offense in the eighth with a double to left center that scored Nick Zezulka (Jr. – St. Anthony, MN/St. Anthony Village) and Joe Clinton (Fr. – Aurora, CO/Cherokee Trail) to cut the deficit to 9-3. Oshkosh rattled off four runs in the bottom of the inning for a 13-3 final. Zezulka, Clinton, and Witte all gathered two hits each in the first game as Richards led the scoring with two RBIs by himself.
In game two, Eau Claire struck first as Chase Yaeger batted in another runner from third on a ground out for a 1-0 lead. UWO answered with a run of their own and two in the second for a 3-1 lead as the teams went to the third inning. Diego Caicedo (Fr. – Pompano Beach, FL/Northeast) tied things up at 3-3 with a two-run single into right field that saw Janssen and Yaeger cross home plate. The Titans answered back once again in the bottom of the inning with a single run to take back their lead, 4-3.
A six-run sixth inning for the home team was answered by a single run on a bases loaded walk by Andrew Murphy (Fr. – Mahtomedi, MN) to make it 10-4 after two thirds innings played. With only two outs remaining in the top of the ninth, Cade Mueller (So. – Coal City, IL) drove in Caicedo and Clinton with a single to centerfield for one last push by Eau Claire. Their offensive would be stifled after Mueller's single as two of the next three batters went down on strikes for a 10-6 final.
The Blugolds 7-17 (2-12 WIAC) will continue Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play over the weekend with a two-day doubleheader series against UW-Stevens Point. Game one of the first doubleheader is scheduled for Saturday, April 23rd at 12PM from University Field in Stevens Point, WI.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
