CLERMONT, Fla. (Blugolds.com) – The 15th-ranked UW-Eau Claire softball team won two games today, opening the day with a 3-1 win over Buffalo State (N.Y.) and finishing with an 8-2 victory over Bethel University (Minn.) at the NTC Spring Games.
In game one, the Blugolds had six hits as they scored runs in the second and fourth innings.
The Blugolds had three hits in the bottom of the second inning and scored one run after starting the inning with two straight outs. Taylor Pierce (Fr.-Green Bay, Wis./Ashwaubenon) got things going for the Blugolds with a triple to left field and Casey Arnold (Fr.-Kaukauna, Wis.) followed with a single to bring Pierce home and give the Blugolds a 1-0 lead.
Buffalo State tied the game in the top of the third but the Blugolds scored two runs on two hits in the fourth to help secure the win. Again Pierce was the first Blugold to get on base, reaching on an error, and she made her way around the bases after a passed ball and an Arnold fly-out. Nikki Bromelkamp (Sr.-Zumbrota, Minn./Zumbrota-Mazeppa) then doubled to left field to send Pierce home and Bromelkamp scored as the next batter, Amanda Fischer (Fr.-Wausau, Wis./West) singled to center field to drive in the run.
In the circle, Emma Wishau (So.-Waterford, Wis./Union) recorded the win to improve to 2-1 on the season. Pitching a complete game, she faced 27 batters and struck out six of them while allowing only three hits.
Against Bethel, Sarah Fern (Jr.-Brooklyn Center, Minn./Park Center) powered the Blugolds with two home runs which brought in four runs.
In the top of the third inning, Fern hit her second homer of the season which also scored Jenny Hess (Jr.-Wisconsin Rapids, Wis./Lincoln). Bethel answered with one run in the bottom of the third but Emily Muller (Sr.-Lancaster, Wis.) drove in two runs in the fifth inning to give the Blugolds a bigger lead (4-1). Hess and Jess Freagon (Sr.-Chippewa Falls, Wis./McDonell) scored in the fifth.
In the sixth inning, Fern again hit a two-run home run which brought Freagon home. Ashley Meinen (Sr.-Chippewa Falls, Wis./McDonell) scored earlier in the inning. Bethel answered with one run in the bottom of the sixth and Eau Claire added a final run in the seventh as Arnold scored a run from a sacrifice fly by Freagon.
The Blugolds finished the game with a season-high nine hits, eight RBI and three doubles. Fern had four RBI while three Blugolds had two hits and two runs.
Emily Ruegemer (So.-St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral) picked up the win in the circle as she pitched four innings. Facing 17 batters, she allowed just one run and four hits while striking out one batter. Meinen pitched two innings and allowed four hits and one run while Laura Raflik (Fr.-Plover, Wis./Pacelli) faced three batters and allowed one hit and had one strikeout.
Eau Claire is now 5-1 on the season.
Tuesday morning the Blugolds will play two more games. They will open the day at 9 a.m. Eastern facing third-ranked Eastern Connecticut State University and will follow with a game against Williams College (Mass.).
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