Whitewater, WI (Blugolds.com)- The 2019 WIAC Softball Championship started Friday May 3rd. The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball team defeated UW-Platteville 8-3 in the first round.

Boxscore | WIAC Softball Championship Website 

The Pioneers got on the score board first in the top of the 2nd inning scoring one run on two hits. The Blugolds answered in the bottom of the inning scoring four runs. Katelyn Yute (So.-North Prairie, WI/Kettle Moraine) got things started for the Blugolds with a single down the right field line and advance to second on a stolen base.  Maria Back (Fr. – Rosemount, MN) and Mikayla McEnery (So.-Savage, MN/Prior Lake) earned back to back walks loading the bases. Abbey Place (So.-Naperville, IL/Naperville Central) walked to score Yute and the Blugolds 1st run.  Katie Rongstad (Jr.-Slinger, WI) got hit by a pitch as the next batter to score another Blugold run.  Meghan Witt (Fr. – Portage, WI) tallied her 17th and 18th RBI of the year, by knocking a double to center as the Blugolds scored two more runs.  Jessica Heffel (Racine, WI/ Case) finally grounded out to end the inning, but after the Blugolds earned a 4-1 lead. 

Katelyn Yute once again got things started for the offense in the bottom of the 3rd. The sophomore singled again and then recorded her fifth stolen base of the year.  Emma Lehman (Sr.-Brooklyn Park, MN/Champlin Park) doubled to score Yute from second and added one more run to the Blugold total. 

The Blugolds bats continued to produce runs in the bottom of the fourth. Rongstad reached as the lead-off hitter on an error from the Pioneers. Allison Schultz (Amery, WI) bunted her to second and legged out the throw to first. Tessa Dachel (Jr. – Chippewa Falls, WIChi-Hi) followd up with another great bunt for the Blugolds advancing both runners and loading the bases. Heffel flied out to center field but Rongstad scored on the tag up from third. Yute then doubled to left scoring two more runs, before getting caught in a pickle between second and third for the Blugolds second out of the inning. Leahman flied out to right field to end the inning. The Blugolds ending the inning scoring 3 runs on 3 hits, now leading 8-1.

The Pioneers fought back in the top of the 6th scoring two runs off a home run hit by Gual (UWP), but the Blugold pitching was able to end the inning and stiffel the Pioneer come back attempt. 

In the circle, Sarah Peka (Jr. – Chanhassen, MN/Minnetonka) earned the win and improved to 11-5 on the year. The junior pitched  four innings scattering three hits and giving up one run, while striking out three. Cheyenne Johnson (Poplar, WI/Northwestern)  picked up her fourth save of the season. Johnson pitched three innings, struck out four, while giving up only two hits and two runs. 

The Blugolds will play again tomorrow at 10:00am facing the winner of the UW-Oshkosh/ UW-Whitewater game, happening today at 3:00pm. Follow the action on Blugold Game Day or the UWEC Blugolds app on your mobile device.