By Tommy McGowan, UWEC Sports Information

LA CROSSE, Wis. (blugolds.com) - The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire baseball team dropped their season opener series against UW-La Crosse Saturday afternoon, 13-0 (7 innings) and 16-6 (8 innings). It marked the first games back for the program since the 1994-95 season.

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

The Blugold offense never quite got going in game one. They got a pair of hits from Otto Treichel (So.-Madison, WI/West) and Anthony Pogodzinski (Fr.-Eau Claire, WI/North) but weren't able to close the gap.

Tom Ginther (Sr.-Rock Springs, WI/Baraboo) got the start at pitcher in the opener and pitched five innings, striking out three batters.

In game two, Eau Claire got on the board when Nate Witte (Fr.-Woodbury, MN/East Ridge) singled and later scored off a passed ball. The Blugolds would score in each of the first four innings.

Witte would again score off a sacrifice fly from Logan Matson (Jr.-Neilsville, WI) in the top of the sixth to tie the game, 6-6. La Crosse responded with a run of their own in the bottom half, and then exploded for six runs in the seventh.

UWEC had one more opportunity at the plate to close the gap but couldn't mount the comeback attempt.

Witte, Matson and Triechel were the top hitters in game two, each getting two hits apiece. Triechel also hit the first home run of the season for the Blugolds, coming back in the third inning.

Will Mosinki (Fr.-Carlisle, PA) got the start in the second game and went 3.1 innings. Kendal Lecker (So.-Seymour, WI), Brenton Bolt (Fr.-Waterford, WI/Muskego) and Jake Fischer (Fr.-Watertown, WI) also saw action on the mound.

Eau Claire will return to the field this Tuesday, March 23 for a neutral site game against UW-Platteville. First pitches will once again be at 1 and 4 PM.

Follow the action on Blugold Game Day.