MELBOURNE, Fla. — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire showcased their dominance with a decisive 15-0 victory over Western Connecticut State University at the Space Coast Complex, followed by a strong 13-5 win against the University of Hartford on Saturday. The Blugolds' offense was impressive, highlighted by a total of 31 hits across both games and a combined performance of 8 stolen bases.
In the first game against WestConn, UW-Eau Claire took control early, scoring five runs in the first inning.
Paige Lathrop singled and stole second, setting the stage for
Molly Marquardt to reach on an error that allowed Lathrop to score. Key hits from
Breeley Gluch and
Hailey Hagedorn contributed to the scoring frenzy. The inning ended with the Blugolds leading 5-0.
The second inning saw UW-Eau Claire add six more runs, with Lathrop reaching on an error and scoring on a sacrifice fly by Marquardt.
Claire Beck tripled to drive in another run, followed by contributions from
Norah Kutnink,
Chloe Ricard, and Gluch. By the end of the second inning, UWEC led 11-0.
Continuing their momentum, the Blugolds added three runs in the third inning, with Marquardt tripling to right center to bring in two runs, followed by Beck hitting a sacrifice fly. After a scoreless fourth inning, UW-Eau Claire capped the game with a final run in the fifth from a single by
Siri Springer that scored
Ava Kozlovsky. The game concluded with a 15-0 victory for the Blugolds.
Claire Beck pitched three innings, allowing 3 hits while striking out 3 batters without issuing a walk. She faced 11 batters, throwing 39 pitches with 29 strikes, maintaining a WHIP of 1.00 and did not allow any earned runs.
Megan Standiford pitched 2 innings in relief, yielding 2 hits and striking out 1 batter with no runs allowed, also maintaining a WHIP of 1.00.
Molly Marquardt delivered a strong performance with three RBIs and a triple, while Beck contributed with two RBIs and a triple, also pitching three strong innings.
Chloe Ricard added two RBIs and a double, scoring twice, and
Hailey Hagedorn drove in three runs with her timely hitting.
In the second game against Hartford, UW-Eau Claire took an early lead in the first inning. Lathrop singled and stole second, allowing
Jane Wallace to drive in a run with a double. Following singles from Marquardt and Beck, another run was scored via a sacrifice fly from Gluch, leaving the Blugolds leading 3-0.
Hartford responded in the second inning with a sacrifice fly by Gia Miccio, making it 3-1. Both teams then scored three runs in the fourth inning, with UW-Eau Claire's
Marlee Smith and Lathrop executing a double steal, leading to a groundout scoring Smith. Beck's RBI single and a groundout by Ricard extended the lead to 6-5 after the fourth inning.
The Blugolds broke the game open in the fifth inning with a five-run explosion, including a run from
Brooklyn Swanepoel on a wild pitch and Lathrop's single driving in another.
Norah Kutnink's double brought in two more runs, extending the lead to 11-5. In the sixth, Swanepoel doubled and scored on Lathrop's single, followed by Wallace's single that brought in Lathrop, sealing the 13-5 victory.
Lauren Trottier pitched 3 innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits, while striking out two batters.
Kasey Felden followed with 3 innings of solid relief, conceding only one run and three hits, striking out two batters and earning the win with an overall pitching record of 3-1.
Lathrop stood out with an impressive performance, scoring four runs and stealing four bases while collecting four hits. Wallace added three RBIs and two hits, including a double. Marquardt scored twice and contributed two hits with an RBI, while Beck added two hits and two RBIs.
Overall, UW-Eau Claire holds a record of 10-4, while WestConn is at 0-2 and Hartford is 4-2.
Looking ahead, the Blugolds will face Hamilton College on Monday, March 16 at 9 a.m. ET at Blue Rawlings Field in Melbourne, Florida.
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