Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball team faced off against the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the opening round of the 2024 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Tournament on Thursday. The tournament is hosted by UW-Oshkosh.

In a defensive game, both teams managed a total of seven hits and three runs combined, resulting in Eau Claire's narrow loss to Whitewater with a score of 2-1. The Warhawks took an early lead in the first inning, scoring two runs through a sacrifice fly and a hit by pitch with bases loaded. Despite having all bases occupied for four batters, Eau Claire managed to limit further damage with a caught foul ball.

Both defenses were strong during the second and third innings, forcing 12 consecutive outs without allowing any runners on base. In the top of the fourth inning, Siri Springer from Lino Lakes, Minnesota, batted in Breann Blanchard from Rockford, Minnesota, on a sacrifice bunt to make it 2-1. However, despite maintaining pressure with hits in the fourth and sixth innings, Eau Claire left three out of five base runners stranded over the final four innings.

Lauren Trottier from Burlington, Wisconsin made her first career start for Eau Claire and pitched six innings. She allowed only two runs on four hits while striking out two Warhawks.

With this loss, UW-Eau Claire falls to the bottom side of the bracket and will face either UW-Stout or UW-La Crosse in an elimination game scheduled for Friday at 9 a.m. at UW-Oshkosh Rec Plex.

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