CLERMONT, Fla. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire softball team won one and lost one on the first day of its Spring Break trip at the NTC Spring Games today. The Blugolds opened the day with a 3-1 victory over SUNY-Oneonta but closed the day with a 1-0 loss to Tufts University (Mass.).

In game one, the Blugolds got on the board right away in the top of the first after Sarah Fern (Jr.-Brooklyn Center, Minn./Park Center) drove in Jess Freagon (Sr.-Chippewa Falls, Wis./McDonell), making the score 1-0.

The Blugolds pushed their lead to two in the second inning. After getting on base with a walk, Taylor Pierce (Fr.-Green Bay, Wis./Ashwaubenon) made her way around the bases after a couple wild pitches and eventually stole home. But Oneonta cut the Blugolds' lead back to one run, scoring in the bottom of the second inning.

In the top of the sixth, the Blugolds added to their lead after a sacrifice fly by Emily Haluska (Jr.-Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH) scored Jenny Hess (Jr.-Wisconsin Rapids, Wis./Lincoln). The Blugolds held on to the lead the rest of the way to record the 3-1 win.

Ashley Meinen (Sr.-Chippewa Falls, Wis./McDonell) led the Blugolds, pitching a complete game. She struck out four batters and allowed only four hits and one run while facing 24 batters.

In the second game, neither team could bring in a run until the seventh inning. Tufts scored in the top of the final inning, and while the Blugolds had a runner on third with just one out, the Jumbos were able to get the final two outs to hang on for the win. Eau Claire had only three hits while Tufts had five.

Emma Wishau (So.-Waterford, Wis./Union) took the loss for the Blugolds as she pitched the full game. She struck out six batters facing 26.

Eau Claire is now 3-1 on the season and will play two more games Monday morning.

-KM-