EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball team was finally able to play at home at Bollinger Field on Saturday, earning a WIAC sweep over UW-Stevens Point.
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
Eau Claire's Ellie Decker (Sr. – Germantown, WI) came up big with a walk-off homerun in game one and the Blugolds would hang on for another narrow victory in game two, winning both contests by a score of 5-4.
In the opener, both squads would get runners on early, but it wasn't until a Stevens Point solo homerun in the third that produced the game's first run.
Eau Claire would take the lead in the fifth, with Kenna Strunsee (Fr. – Waukesha, WI/South) getting things going with a single through the left side. Sadie Erickson (Jr. – Norwood Young America, MN/Central) moved her over to second with a single, then Srunsee would take advantage of a passed ball to move to third and would score on a wild pitch.
Decker then gave the Blugolds the lead, belting a double to center to score Erickson.
Eau Claire would hold the 2-1 lead heading into what would be a wild seventh inning.
In the top half, Stevens Point put a runner in scoring position with a one-out double then drew a walk. After a popup to the pitcher, the Pointers drew another walk to load the bases and would tie the game after scoring on a passed ball.
Stevens Point then claimed the lead with a single through the left side that would plate two more runs. Following another walk, Abbey Cook (Jr. – Woodbury, MN/East Ridge) would enter the game and struck out the first batter she faced to end the inning.
Down 4-2 heading into the bottom of seventh, Erickson drew a one-out walk and moved herself into scoring position by stealing second. She would advance to third on a Claire Beck (Fr. – Jefferson, WI) single to center, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate with Decker. The senior would come up big for Eau Claire, belting a three-run homer for the walk-off win, her third long ball of the season.
Decker powered the Blugold offense, finishing 2-for-4 with a double, homerun and 4 RBIs.
Eau Claire would continue to press in game two, with Megan Maruna (Jr. – Oswego, IL) drawing a walk to start the Blugold first and would later score on a Beck single for an early 1-0 advantage. The home squad would pick up two more in the second inning, the first off a Strunsee RBI single through the left side and the second coming on Erickson's RBI single up the middle.
Stevens Point would get on the board in the fourth, scoring one run on two hits but Eau Claire responded with another run of their own. Shaelyn Talley (Jr. – Wausau, WI/West) led off with a base hit to center and stole second. Maruna followed with a single to left, scoring Talley.
The next Blugold run would come in the fifth with another leadoff single, this time from Beck. Jayden Hodgson (So. – Chippewa Falls, WI/Chi-Hi) came in to pinch run for Beck and quickly made her presence known by stealing second. Hodgson would make her way around the bases, advancing to third on a groundout to first base and then scored on Haley Lamberson's (Jr. – Silver Lake, WI/Wilmot Union) squeeze bunt to the pitcher.
The Pointers rallied for two runs in the sixth thanks to four hits, cutting the lead to 5-3. They would plate one more run in the seventh, taking advantage of a base hit and two walks and scored a run on a wild pitch. But Eau Claire would seal the sweep with another game-ending strikeout to win 5-4.
Strunsee and Beck each tallied two hits to pace the offense while Jacie Schultz (Fr. – Lake Crystal, MN/Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial) earned the win in the circle and improves to 8-1 on the season and Lauren Gamme (So. – Eagan, MN) picked up her sixth save.
The Blugolds (19-7, 5-3 WIAC) will continue conference play at home with a doubleheader with UW-Stout (10-18, 0-6 WIAC) on Wednesday, April 27th. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m.
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