RIVER FALLS - The 15th-ranked UW-Eau Claire softball team defeated UW-Whitewater 6-3 and beat UW-Platteville 4-2 to finish 3-1 at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Cluster concluded here today.

Megan Oster (Fr.-Eau Claire/Immanuel Lutheran) provided all the offense the Blugolds would need in the victory over Whitewater. Oster pinch hit for Steph Salter (So.-Schofield/D.C. Everest) in the top of the second with the bases loaded and cleared the bases with her first home run of the year.

The Warhawks chased starter Andrea Neuville (Jr.-Green Bay/West) in the third. Neuville gave up two unearned runs in the second inning and another unearned run in the third to cut the Eau Claire lead to 4-3.

The Blugolds added some insurance in the top of the sixth with two runs. Terisa Syvertsen (Jr.-Woodbury, MN) started the inning with a single and scored on a double to center field from Casey Leisgang (Fr.-Seymour). Molly Blakewell plated Leisgang with a single to right to put Eau Claire up 6-3.

Neuville earned the win to improve to 14-3 on the year. Mallory McKinney (So.-Brooklyn Park, MN/Champlin Park) picked up her first save of the year allowing five hits and striking out six in the final 4 2/3 innings.

Eau Claire got the offense started early against the Pioneers scoring two runs in the top half of the first inning. Leisgang got it started drawing a walk and then stealing second. She advanced to third on a groundout and scored the game's opening run on a wild pitch. Jill Janke (Fr.-Black River Falls) singled in another run for her team-leading 29th RBI.

Platteville scored a run of its own in the bottom of the first but Eau Claire pushed the lead back to two runs with a run in the fourth. Oster knocked in her fifth run of the day with a double to center scoring Syvertsen.

The Pioneers again cut the Eau Claire lead to one but the Blugolds added an insurance run in the seventh inning. Shannon Barone (So.-DePere) singled to lead off the inning and McKinney doubled her in to push the Eau Claire lead to 4-2.

Neuville again earned the win to improve to 15-3. Neuville pitched four innings giving up one unearned run while striking out two. McKinney pitched the last 1 2/3 innings to earn the save.

The Blugolds improve to 13-3 in the WIAC and 30-7 overall with the wins today.

Eau Claire will be in action next when it hosts St. Mary's Tuesday. The game is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

Eau Claire-Whitewater Box Score

Eau Claire-Platteville Box Score

- JL -