EAU CLAIRE, WIS. (Blugolds.com)- Another perfect day for softball in Eau Claire, and another sweep as the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball team took two over the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Points Friday afternoon at Gelein Field.
Game one box score | Game two box score
The game opened with two quick outs from the Pointers, but a single, walk, hit by pitch and an error would allow the game's first run. The Blugolds would bounce right back though, scoring four in the inning. The scoring was led off by a Brooke Varian (Fr. – Madison, WI/West) triple, and continued thanks to perfectly executed small ball.
Eau Claire would tack on two more in the third inning, thanks to a RBI double from Sam Noetzelman (Jr.-Delano, MN), one play later Morgan Lecheler (Jr.-Menomonie, WI) would drive her with a RBI single. The Blugolds would add three more runs to their line in the following inning. Jordan Cockroft (So.-Ithaca, WI) would close the door by striking out the last two Pointers giving the Blugolds the via the eight-run rule.
Zana Lorbetske (Sr.-Rhinelander, WI/Three Lakes) had a strong start, throwing 4.0 innings and allowing just the one run, while striking out six. Jordon Cockroft came in for the final inning, and allowed one hit and struck out two.
In the second game, the Blugolds looked to keep things rolling and they did as the team added a run in both the first and second innings. Stevens Point would not answer the call until late in the fifth inning, where two hits and an Eau Claire error would allow the game to be tied at two.
The Blugolds came right back, Leah Wolff (Jr.-Middleton, WI) lead off the inning with a walk and was then pitch ran for by Gracia Larson (Sr.-Eau Claire, WI/Hillcrest Academy). The senior would make a big impact on the bases, after being advanced to second by Noetzelman; she would steal third and score thanks to an error. In the sixth, Eau Claire added two more. Varian reached on an error and Rachel Heffel(Jr.-Racine, WI/Case) reached on a single. The duo would be brought in by a two RBI double from Evie Schaller (Jr.-Chippewa Falls, WI). These runs would prove to be the key insurance runs in a 5-2 victory. Lauren Blasczyk (Jr.-Appleton, WI/East) was solid in her start allowing just one earned run, on five hits with two strikeouts in a complete game effort.
On the day, the team leaders were Heffel who was 3-5 with an RBI, also Schaller and Wolff were key in the wins both going 2-6 on the day with three RBIs a piece.
The sweep gives the Blugolds their sixth straight win and they will look to increase it to eight on Saturday. Eau Claire (17-10-1, 6-1-1 WIAC) will travel to Platteville to take on the Pioneers at noon.
