EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball team secured a 9–6 victory and narrowly followed with a 10-9 triumph over the University of Wisconsin-Stout Blue Devils at Bollinger Field Wednesday evening. In the first game, the Blugolds tallied 11 hits and drew 10 walks, capitalizing on UW-Stout's pitching to maintain the lead, while in the second game, a decisive 10-run fifth inning propelled them to victory despite a late comeback from UW-Stout.
In first inning of game one, the Blugolds answered an early lead by Stout when
Paige Lathrop singled and later crossed home plate on a hit by
Siri Springer, bringing the score to 2–1 in favor of Blue Devils. In the second inning,
Breeley Gluch walked and stole second, allowing Lathrop to drive her in with a single. Lathrop later scored on a wild pitch, giving the Blugolds a 3–2 lead. The third inning saw UW-Eau Claire extend its lead with a four-run rally.
Emma Raikowski walked and moved to third on Gluch's single. A hit-by-pitch to
Norah Kutnink scored Raikowski, followed by RBI hits from
Claire Beck and Hagedorn, making it 7–2.
In the fourth inning,
Paige Lathrop singled again, bringing
Breeley Gluch home after she stole second, increasing the lead to 8–2. UW-Stout fought back in the fifth inning with four runs, reducing UW-Eau Claire's lead to 8–6. However, the Blugolds added an insurance run in the bottom of the inning when
Breann Blanchard scored on a single by
Chloe Ricard, finalizing the inning at 9–6. The defense held strong in the final two innings, keeping UW-Stout scoreless.
Claire Beck pitched 1 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and two walks.
Megan Standiford, in her first career start, went 4 2/3 innings on the mound, conceded six earned runs on six hits, and walked three, but also struck out three batters to earn her first career win and improving her record to 1-1.
Kasey Felden contributed by pitching 2/3 inning, securing a save with one walk, a line out, and a fly out.
Paige Lathrop led UW-Eau Claire with three runs and three hits, adding two RBIs and drawing two walks.
Breeley Gluch contributed three runs and showcased speed on the bases with three stolen bases.
Siri Springer added two hits and drove in two runs, also drawing a walk.
Game two began with scoring in the third inning when UW-Stout took a 1-0 lead off a RBI single. After four innings, UW-Stout extended its lead to 2-0 with another RBI single.
The fifth inning saw a dramatic shift as UW-Eau Claire exploded for ten runs.
Paige Lathrop started the rally with a single, followed by a double from
Norah Kutnink, and
Claire Beck's RBI single brought in the first run.
Hailey Hagedorn and
Siri Springer added RBI hits, and a wild pitch and an error allowed more runs to score. The inning was capped by Kutnink's two-RBI single. By the end of the fifth, the Blugolds led 10-3.
UW-Stout mounted a comeback in the sixth inning, scoring six runs, highlighted by a three-run homer, bringing UW-Stout within one run. The seventh inning was scoreless for both teams, securing a 10-9 victory for UW-Eau Claire.
Kasey Felden pitched 4 innings, allowing 3 earned runs on 8 hits, with 2 strikeouts and 1 walk.
Lauren Trottier entered in relief, pitching 1 1/3 innings and giving up 6 earned runs on 6 hits, including 1 home run, while issuing one walk.
Emma Sather closed the game, throwing 1 2/3 innings, allowing just one hit without surrendering any runs.
Norah Kutnink led the offensive effort with three hits, including a double, and drove in two runs while scoring twice.
Hailey Hagedorn contributed significantly by driving in three runs and adding a hit.
Paige Lathrop scored twice, contributing to the team's offensive momentum.
The next challenge for the Blugolds is set for Saturday, May 2, when they host UW-Whitewater for their regular season finale at Bollinger Field in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The doubleheader is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT.
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