LA CROSSE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball team opened conference play on Saturday, earning a split with UW-La Crosse.
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
The Blugolds rallied in the top of the seventh in game one to break the tie for an 8-4 win, while in game two it was the Eagles who won with a walk-off homerun, winning 5-3.
In game one, La Crosse scored a run in the first for an early lead. The Blugolds would take the lead in the top of the third thanks to a two-run homer by Sadie Erickson (Jr. – Norwood Young America, MN/Central). The Eagles would tie things back up in the bottom half of the inning, scoring on a Blugold error. They would regain the lead in the fifth to take a 3-2 advantage heading into the sixth.
Erickson would come up big for the Blugolds once again in the sixth, this time hitting a two-run double to center to put Eau Claire up 4-3.
La Crosse would plate their fourth run on a passed ball in the bottom of the sixth, tying the game at 4 apiece.
With two outs in the top of the seventh, Haley Lamberson (Jr. – Silver Lake, WI/Wilmot Union) singled while Erickson drew a walk. On the next play, Lamberson would score on an Eagle error for the go-ahead run.
Ellie Decker (Sr. – Germantown, WI) would then step up to the plate and blast her second homer of the season, giving Eau Claire an 8-4 advantage.
Lauren Gamme (So. – Eagan, MN) and the Blugolds defense would shut down La Crosse in the bottom half of the inning, giving Eau Claire their first WIAC win.
Erickson led the Blugolds with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate with a double and homerun.
In the nightcap, both teams would get runs on the board in the first. Megan Maruna (Jr. – Oswego, IL) led off with a double to center and would later score on a groundout. La Crosse responded with two runs in the frame and would maintain the lead until the fourth.
After an Erickson single to start the inning, Maria Back (Sr. – Rosemount, MN) tripled to center to score Erickson and she would score in the next at bat, thanks to Decker's single to third base.
But the Eagles would not go away, putting another run on the board in the fourth to tie the game at 3.
Neither team could muster much offense in the remaining innings, but in the bottom of the seventh, the Eagles would draw a walk and then with two outs, hit a walk-off homerun for a 5-3 victory.
Eau Claire out-hit La Crosse 10-7 in the game, four of which coming from Maruna who was a perfect 4-for-4 from the leadoff spot.
Gamme took the loss in the circle, striking out two and allowing four hits and three runs in four innings.
The Blugolds (15-5, 1-1 WIAC) will continue their road trip Sunday as they travel to Platteville to take on the Pioneers (9-11, 1-1 WIAC).
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