By Tommy McGowan, UWEC Sports Information
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) - The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire baseball team lost their Wednesday afternoon series against UW-Stevens Point, 2-1 and 10-6.
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score| Photos
Following a Stevens Point run in the top of the second inning, game one remained locked at 1-0 for most of the action. The Pointers would add one more in the eighth to make it 2-0, but the Blugolds put pressure on them in the final two innings.
A double from Anthony Pogodzinski (Fr.-Eau Claire, WI/North) opened the eighth for Eau Claire. He would advance to third off a single from Nate Witte (Fr.-Woodbury, MN/East Ridge) and then scored the first run of the game for the Blugolds off an RBI double by David Janssen (Fr.-Lino Lakes, MN/Centennial). Despite loading up the bases, the Blugolds couldn't add another run.
Eau Claire's final opportunity at the plate came up short, dropping game one 2-1. They would finish the game with six hits, with two coming from Otto Treichel (So.-Madison, WI/West) and four other batters.
Tom Ginther (Sr.-Rock Springs, WI/Baraboo) got the start at pitcher and went the full nine innings, striking out nine batters and allowing just the two runs.
Game two began with a Pointer run in the top of the first, but UWEC countered with a run of their own in the bottom-half of the inning. Logan Matson (Jr.-Neillsville, WI) reached base on a single and scored off an RBI from Treichel to tie the game up.
A huge four-run sixth gave Eau Claire a 5-4 advantage heading into the final few innings. Henry Pitsch (Fr.-Madison, WI/West) got the offense going by reaching base on a walk and the Blugolds loaded up the bases. Johnny Pecora (Fr.-South Barrington, IL) quickly cleared them, hitting his first career grand slam.
The Pointers had another big inning at the plate in the eighth, putting Eau Claire back in a hole. They took a run back with another Pecora home run, but it wasn't enough.
The Blugolds will get another chance against the Pointers over the weekend, going on the road this Saturday. Follow the action on Blugold Game Day.
