EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (15-12, 8-7) faced the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (21-7, 12-4) in a doubleheader on Saturday at Carson Park, suffering defeats in both games with final scores of 5–1 and 7–4.
In the first game, UW-Eau Claire struggled to generate offense, scoring its only run in the eighth inning.
Austin Curti ignited the rally with a single, setting up
Kellen Smith's hit up the middle.
Logan Scuglik followed with an RBI single, bringing Curti across the plate. However, the Blugolds could not sustain their momentum, ending the game with a groundout and two flyouts in the ninth inning.
UW-La Crosse dominated the ninth inning, breaking a tense tie with a four-run rally. Keegan Fleischman's single up the middle brought home three runs, aided by a crucial throwing error, sealing the win for the Eagles.
Nicholas Meuser pitched 8 innings for UW-Eau Claire, allowing 4 earned runs on 7 hits while striking out 6 batters and walking one. He threw 105 pitches, with 65 strikes, and surrendered one home run.
Ben Dorantes entered in relief, pitching 1 inning and allowing 1 run on 2 hits, recording 1 strikeout. Curti scored one run and added a hit, while Smith tallied two hits, and Scuglik recorded two hits and drove in one run.
The second game saw UW-Eau Claire rally in the seventh inning, scoring three runs to narrow the deficit, but ultimately fell short.
Will Johnson led the charge with a three-run homer, bringing the Blugolds within one run. However, UW-La Crosse responded with a crucial rally in the eighth, highlighted by Charley Rowan's two-RBI single, which extended their lead to three runs.
In a final push during the ninth, UW-Eau Claire was unable to get a runner on base as
Logan Hesselman, John Digregorio, and
Cole Clausen each recorded outs, sealing the outcome of the game.
Evan Fischer pitched 7 innings, allowing 11 hits and 4 earned runs while striking out 4 batters without issuing any walks on 96 pitches.
Chase Watkins entered the game in relief, pitching 1/3 of an inning and conceding 2 earned runs on 2 hits and 1 walk.
Cooper Senne closed the game with 1 2/3 innings pitched, allowing 1 hit and recording 2 strikeouts on 24 pitches. Johnson led the offense in this game, scoring two runs and collecting three RBIs, including the home run, while
Austin Buck contributed with two hits and one run scored.
The doubleheader results leave UW-Eau Claire with a record of 15-12 and 8-7 in the conference, while UW-La Crosse improves to 21-7 and 12-4 in the conference.
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