KENOSHA, Wis. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire baseball team battled but ultimately dropped both games of a doubleheader against UW-Parkside on Thursday to open its season. The Blugolds held late leads in both games against the Division II opponent, but fell 9-5 and 5-4 (12 innings).
The doubleheader marked UW-Eau Claire's first games with new head coach
Patrick Reilly. The Blugolds (0-2) put themselves in position to win each game, but couldn't hold on.
The Blugolds got off to a good start in their first game of the season, plating two runs in the top of the first inning.
Dustan Green (Jr. – Prior Lake, Minn.) and
Connor Weik (So. – Wauconda, Ill./Mundelein) both hit RBI singles to put UW-Eau Claire ahead 2-0. The lead didn't last though, as the Rangers answered with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame.
UW-Eau Claire responded in the top of the second, crossing the plate three more times to take a 5-3 advantage.
Walter Johnson (Jr. – Minnetonka, Minn.), Green and
Diego Caicedo (Jr. – Pompano Beach, Fla./Northeast) all hit back-to-back run-scoring singles for the Blugolds. UW-Parkside (5-7) tacked on another run in the bottom of the second, but the Blugolds held onto the 5-4 lead through the top of the eighth inning.
Charley Griffin (Sr. – River Falls, Wis.) and
Ky Mueller (So. – Green Bay, Wis./Bay Port) teamed up to pitch four scoreless innings in relief of starter
Brennan Cohen (Jr. – Vestavia Hills, Ala.), who worked three frames.
The Rangers took the lead for good in the bottom of the eighth, where they scored five runs on four hits.
Green paced the Blugolds with a 3-for-5 showing in Game 1.
Austin Buck (So. – Afton, Minn./Stillwater) added two hits, including a double. Cohen started on the mound and worked three frames, allowing three earned runs. He struck out three.
The Rangers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of Game 2, but offense was at a premium. UW-Parkside tacked on two runs in the fourth, but it remained a 3-0 game until the seventh inning.
The Blugolds erupted for four runs to take the lead in the top of the seventh. They loaded the bases with no outs, and
Eli Keirstead (Fr. – Savage, Minn./Burnsville) drew a walk to get them on the board. Buck added a sacrifice fly before Johnson belted a two-run double to put UW-Eau Claire ahead 4-3.
UW-Parkside tied the game with a run in the bottom of the seventh, but neither side scored again in regulation. The game went to extra innings, where the Blugolds had their chances to regain the lead. They got the go-ahead run to third base in both the top of the 11
th and the 12
th frames, but couldn't capitalize. UW-Parkside ended the game in the bottom of the 12
th with a walk-off single through the right side of the infield.
Johnson went 3 for 6 with two doubles and two RBI in Game 2. He was the lone Blugold with multiple hits in the contest.
Travis Thompson (So. – Laurel, Md./Reservoir) started on the mound and worked two innings, surrendering one run.
Nicholas Meuser (Fr. – Burnsville, Minn.),
Sebastian De La Toba (So. – Chula Vista, Calif./Olympian) and
Cole Hinkel (Jr. – Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View) all pitched two innings in relief.
Draza Dupor (Fr. – Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) pitched three scoreless innings — the ninth, 10
th and 11
th — to help keep the Blugolds' chances alive.
The Blugolds will return to the field when they travel to the RussMatt Invitational in Florida from March 16-22. UW-Eau Claire takes on Bard College in a doubleheader on March 16, starting a stretch of 10 games at the tournament.
