MELBOURNE, Fla. — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball team completed their Spring Break trip down in Florida on Tuesday as they achieved two remarkable victories during the Space Coast Games, first defeating Hartford with an impressive 8-0 score in six innings, followed by a commanding 18-1 win in five innings against Webster University at Blue Rawlings Field.
In the matchup against Hartford, UW-Eau Claire's offense shined with a seven-run second inning that set the tone for the game.
Claire Beck walked to start the rally, advanced on a throwing error, and
Norah Kutnink doubled, pushing Beck to third.
Breeley Gluch's single to right field allowed Kutnink to score, and
Marlee Smith delivered a two-RBI single that brought home both Gluch and
Brooklyn Swanepoel. A single from
Paige Lathrop, coupled with a fielding error, resulted in Smith and
Ava Kozlovsky crossing the plate.
Molly Marquardt capped the inning with a two-RBI double, scoring Lathrop and
Jane Wallace, establishing a commanding 7-0 lead after two innings. In the sixth inning, the Blugolds extended their lead further when
Jane Wallace singled, and pinch runner
Emmy Olson advanced to third on Marquardt's double. Beck's RBI single drove Olson home, finalizing the score at 8-0.
Claire Beck was exceptional on the mound, pitching a complete game shutout over six innings, allowing eight hits while striking out three batters and walking just one. Her control was evident, with 58 of her 78 pitches as strikes, improving her season record to 5-1.
Paige Lathrop contributed significantly with two hits and two RBIs, while
Molly Marquardt recorded two doubles and added two RBIs.
Marlee Smith also played a crucial role, collecting two hits and two RBIs.
In their next game against Webster, the Blugolds showcased their offensive prowess, scoring 10 runs in the first inning alone.
Molly Marquardt led the charge with a double to left field for two RBIs, scoring
Brooklyn Swanepoel and
Paige Lathrop.
Claire Beck contributed with a double, bringing in Marquardt, and
Ava Kozlovsky added a two-RBI double to left center, scoring
Norah Kutnink and Beck. By the end of the first inning, the Blugolds had established a commanding 10-0 lead.
The dominance continued into the second inning, where Lathrop singled through the right side to drive in
Marlee Smith, and Beck followed with an RBI single to right field, scoring Lathrop. This extended the lead to 15-0. Webster managed to score in the third inning with an RBI double, but UW-Eau Claire maintained a substantial lead at 15-1.
The fourth inning added two more runs, as
Kennedy Tumm tripled to right center, scoring
Siri Springer, and
Hailey Hagedorn's sacrifice fly brought in Tumm, pushing the score to 17-1. In the fifth inning, Springer doubled to center field, allowing
Emmy Olson to score on a fielding error, rounding out the final score at 18-1.
Lauren Trottier pitched three innings, allowing just one earned run on four hits and striking out one, with a WHIP of 1.33.
Lauren Heltemes and
Emma Sather provided solid relief, with Heltemes striking out one and Sather facing three batters without allowing a hit. Marquardt led the offensive attack with three hits and four RBIs, while Lathrop scored three runs and collected two hits, contributing two RBIs. Beck added three hits and two RBIs, and Kutnink, despite not recording a hit, drove in three runs and scored twice.
The Blugolds will return to the Midwest and gear up for their next challenge in a doubleheader against UW-Superior on Tuesday, March 24, at Sonnentag Fieldhouse in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. CT.
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