WHITEWATER, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball team returned to Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play on Tuesday afternoon as they traveled East to faceoff with UW-Whitewater in a doubleheader. Despite taking an early lead in both games, UW-Eau Claire surrendered late runs as they fell in both games 5-4 and 4-1.
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
The Blugolds found the first run of the day in the top of the second inning as they capitalized on each of their at bats. Madi Zerr (Sr. – Bristol, Wis./Wilmot Union) found UWEC's first hit of the afternoon on a double down the left field line, setting up a runner in scoring position. After advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt by Kenna Strunsee (So. – Waukesha, Wis.), Shaelyn Talley (Sr. – Wausau, Wis./West) crossed home plate on a Alli Schoenrock (So. – Blaine, Minn.) groundout to second base for a 1-0 Eau Claire lead.
The offense didn't stop there as Megan Patterson (So. – Johnsburg, Ill.) and Chloe Garofalo (So. – Kenosha, Wis./Bradford) both recorded singles in the top of the third inning. A sacrifice bunt by Haley Lamberson (Sr. – Silver Lake, Wis./Wilmot Union) advanced the two Blugolds on base as UWEC looked to extend their lead. Megan Maruna (Sr. – Oswego, Ill.) did just that with a single through the left side clearing the bases to make it 3-0 in favor of Eau Claire.
After three shutout innings from Madi Zerr and the Eau Claire defense, the bottom of the fourth took a turn against the visitors. An RBI single from the fourth batter gave UWW their first run of the game and put runners on second and third as the Warhawks advanced on the throw to home. After a routine pop up to first base, Whitewater faced two outs and a two-run deficit. During the next at bat, another routine pop up was disrupted as Megan Maruna collided with the second base umpire as she tracked the ball through the air. Maruna's collision with the official resulted in a bases clearing single for UWW and a tie game through four innings of play.
A scoreless fifth inning left both teams with just six outs left, but a similar sequence unfolded for UW-Eau Claire in the sixth. Madi Zerr got things started with her second double of the game to left field to give UWEC a scoring opportunity. Two batters later, Alli Schoenrock recorded her second RBI of the day on a fielder's choice, sending Zerr across home to take a 4-3 lead.
The Warhawks answered right back in the bottom of the sixth with a pair of RBI singles to take their first lead of the afternoon and the final runs of the game. Chloe Garofalo gathered her second hit of the day in the top of the seventh to instill some hope in the Blugold dugout. The next at bat, Garofalo stole second to put herself into scoring position, but a fly ball to the pitcher would end things in the top of the inning as Eau Claire fell 5-4 to Whitewater in game one.
Madi Zerr finished the opening game with five innings pitched, 26 batters faced, zero walks, and four strikeouts. Zerr was assessed the loss as is now 3-7 on the year.
The second game of the afternoon started in favor of UWEC as Haley Lamberson singled, stole second, and crossed home on a Madi Zerr single to give the Blugolds a 1-0 lead. Eau Claire followed their hot start with a quick shutout first of the Warhawks in the bottom of the first.
UW-Whitewater answered in the second inning with two outs on the board with an RBI single to right center field to tie the game at 1-1. UWEC were kept quiet in the third and fourth innings from the batter's box as the Warhawks found the lead in the bottom of the third inning with three runs on four hits. Eau Claire found runners in scoring position in the fifth and sixth inning but were left stranded as UWW dealt the Blugolds their 14th defeat of the year.
The Blugolds (12-14, 1-5 WIAC) will head back on the road on Saturday, April 22nd when they travel to Stevens Point, Wis. to continue WIAC play. A doubleheader between UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stevens Point is scheduled to begin at 1PM.
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