MACON, Ill. (Blugolds.com)— Neither rain nor a lack of a playing field could stop the UW-Eau Claire softball team from picking up two big wins over Millikin University (Ill.) today in day two of their spring break series.
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
Early in the day, the Blugolds were informed that Millikin's field was underwater, leaving them with minimal options to get the games in. But Meridian High School had dry fields available so both teams headed to Macon, Illinois.
Game one saw UW-Eau Claire jump out to an early lead and they never looked back. The Blugolds scored two quick runs in the first inning and would score at least one run in every inning of the game except for the second. Blugold bats were swinging hard and in the 6th inning nine players made it to home plate on six hits, including a three RBI homerun from Casey Arnold (Sr.-Kaukauna, WI).
UW-Eau Claire closed out the first game in six innings to walk away with a 15-1 victory. Zana Lorbetske (Jr.-Rhinelander, WI/Three Lakes) would get the win, striking out six batters while walking four and giving up for four hits.
In game two, UWEC would once again get the first score of the game, this time scoring four runs in the 1st inning. A walk and a batter hit by a pitch put two runners on when Amanda Fischer (Sr.-Wausau, WI/West) stepped up to the plate. A bunt by Fischer set up a bases loaded situation for Arnold who would double through the left side and score two runs. With no outs and another batter put on first by a walk, Kenzie Winning (So.-Waupun, WI) sent a hard ground ball up the leftfield line to score Fischer and move Arnold to third base. Leah Wolff (So.-Middleton, WI) scored Arnold on a fielder's choice and Abby Hansen (Jr.-Kaukauna, WI) had a bunt for a hit that would score Winning and advance Wolff to third after Nikki Brooks (Sr.-Hammond, WI/St. Croix Central) walked. Taylor Pierce (Sr.-Ashwaubenon, WI) had the final RBI of the inning in which Wolff would score. The inning would end after the entire order batted around and then some.
Deanna Gilane would knock in two runs in the 2nd inning to extend the Blugold lead 10-4. Fischer sent a ball over the left field fence in the third to grab another run and send UW-Eau Claire into the 4th inning ahead by seven runs. In the top of the fourth inning of game two, Rachel Heffel (So.-Racine, WI/Case) knocked in two runs on a hard hit single up the middle. Fischer added another single that would send in the final run of the game for the Blugolds. Millikin put up three quick outs in the 5th inning and scored four of their own runs but it wasn't enough to stop UW-Eau Claire from grabbing their second win of the day with a 14-8 score.
"Our team is completely clicking in every way," said Fischer. "Even though our record isn't where we want it to be at this point, absolutely everyone has the faith and the motivation to take the momentum from these wins into the rest of break. We know that we're going to win some important games."
After struggling to get on base in the first few games of the season, Fischer led the Blugolds in hitting, going 5-for-8 with two homeruns, a triple, and a game-high eight RBIs. Winning also went 5-for-8 adding a homerun and two more RBIs. Arnold put up a homerun for UW-Eau Claire and went 4-for-8 with a double.
"I just did what Coach [Huntington] said, 'do what is necessary and get on," added Fischer. "I went up, took some deep breaths, felt relaxed, and knew I was going to hit the ball today."
UW-Eau Claire moves to 3-5 on the year. The next time the Blugolds take the field will be against East Texas Baptist University on Sunday. Game times are 2:00 and 4:00pm.
-MRW-