RIVER FALLS, Wis. (
www.blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball team took their final road trip of the regular season on Wednesday with a short trip over to UW-River Falls for a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) doubleheader. After an offensive showcase earlier in the week, UW-Eau Claire brought the shutdown defense to earn a pair of 1-0 victories while allowing just 7 hits during 14 innings of play.
The first game of the afternoon showcased a pitchers' duel as both teams were held scoreless in the first five innings.
Jocelyn Hancock (Sr. – Verona, Wis.) pitched the first four innings of play and allowed just three hits while striking out three Falcon batters.
Lauren Trottier (Fr. – Burlington, Wis./Elkhorn) entered the scoreless contest in the fifth inning and sat down 10 of the 12 batters she faced allowing just one hit and one walk.
With no runs on the board in the top of the sixth,
Molly Marquardt (Fr. – Manhattan, Ill./Lincoln Way West) blasted a first pitch fastball over the left field fence for a 1-0 Blugold lead. With her third straight game hitting a home run, Marquardt's 9
th homer of the season ties her for the WIAC lead with Sophie Wery from UW-Oshkosh.
With the solo blast in the sixth,
Lauren Trottier earned her fifth win of the season and sits at 5-2 in her rookie year as UWEC held on for the 1-0 victory.
Game two carried momentum from the opening contest for the Blugolds as
Paige Lathrop (So. – South Milwaukee, Wis.) crossed home plate in the top of the first after
Hailey Hagedorn (So. – Farmington, Minn.) hit Eau Claire's third straight single to open the game with a 1-0 lead that would never be touched.
From there,
Jacie Schultz (Jr. – Lake Crystal, Minn./Lake Crystal-Wellcome) and the UWEC defense stood tall and strong with seven scoreless Falcon innings. Schultz allowed just three hits while striking out three Falcons and stranding those three runners on base to earn her sixth win of the season. The game two shutout was Schultz's first complete game of the season and fifth of her career.
During the sweep of the Falcons,
Molly Marquardt led the way at the plate by going 4 for 6 with 1 run, 1 RBI, and 1 home run.
The Blugolds (18-14, WIAC 5-5) will wrap up their regular season on Saturday, May 4 when they host UW-Oshkosh at Bollinger Fields. UWEC softball will host Alumnae Recognition Day with game one set to begin at 1 p.m.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at
Blugolds.com or on our app,
Blugold Sports.
