MANKATO, Minn. — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire baseball team split a doubleheader with Bethany Lutheran on Thursday at ISG Field, dropping the first game 7-1 before rallying 10-8 in the second. The Blugolds overturned a deficit late in the second game to earn a split with the Vikings.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- UW-Eau Claire (3-1) took the lead early in the first game, but didn't have an answer after Bethany Lutheran (5-8) rallied. Austin Buck (Jr. - Afton, Minn./Stillwater) grounded out for an RBI in the top of the first to put UW-Eau Claire ahead, but it was the only offense the Blugolds could muster in the first game.
- The Vikings scored three times in both the second and third innings to break Game 1 open. On the mound, they limited the Blugolds to six hits in the seven-inning contest.
- UW-Eau Claire's fortunes improved in Game 2. The Blugolds built a four-run lead by the fifth inning, striking twice in the first and once more in both the third and fourth.
- Bethany Lutheran trimmed the deficit to one with a three-run sixth, and pulled in front 7-4 by plating four more runs in the seventh. But the Blugolds took the decisive swing in the eighth, erupting for five runs to ahead for good.
- Brayton Thillman (So. - Eau Claire, Wis./North) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring the tying run in during the five-run eighth. Drew Salyers (Sr. - Centennial, Colo./Arapahoe) delivered the game-winning hit shortly after, knocking a two-RBI single to right field to put UW-Eau Claire ahead 9-7.
- The Vikings hit a solo homer in the eighth to make it a one-run game, but Carter Vieth (Fr. - Elk Mound, Wis.) added an insurance run with an RBI single in the ninth for UW-Eau Claire. Sebastian De La Toba (Jr. - Chula Vista, Calif./Olympian) pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth to lock down the save.
- Brennan Cohen (Sr. - Vestavia Hills, Ala.) pitched six innings and held the Vikings to three runs. Brandon Sylla (Fr. - Independence, Wis.) earned his first collegiate victory with one inning of work out of the bullpen.
- Cole Clausen (Jr. - Prior Lake, Minn.) paced the offense with three hits in Game 2. Salyers and Buck added two apiece.
UP NEXT
The Blugolds continue their road trip with a visit to St. Mary's (Minn.) on Friday, March 14. The doubleheader begins at 1 p.m.
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