Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire baseball team managed to split a doubleheader against UW-Platteville on Wednesday at Carson Park. After losing the first game 16-6, the Blugolds rallied in Game 2 to secure a 6-4 victory, marking their first home win of the season.

In Game 2, UW-Eau Claire (11-25, 3-17) was initially trailing 4-0. The Pioneers had scored runs in the first, third, fifth, and sixth innings. However, the Blugolds began their comeback with an RBI groundout by Walter Johnson in the bottom of the sixth inning. They narrowed the gap to 4-3 after Eli Keirstead and Cade Mueller hit consecutive sacrifice flies in the seventh inning. The game was tied when Dustan Green was hit by a pitch with bases loaded in the eighth inning.

Jacob Lacy then gave UW-Eau Claire the lead with a bases-loaded walk in the eighth inning, followed by another bases-loaded walk from Mueller. Draza Dupor secured his first career win by retiring all batters he faced in order during the ninth inning.

Dupor pitched 3.1 scoreless innings of relief, allowing only one hit and striking out four batters. Joe Clinton started for UW-Eau Claire and pitched 5.2 innings, giving up four runs while striking out seven.

Drew Salyers led his team with two hits in Game 2.

In Game 1, despite making it a close contest at one point with a score of 7-5 through three innings, UW-Platteville pulled away from UW-Eau Claire across later innings. The Pioneers scored four times in the top of the first inning but were answered by a two-run homer from Carson Windeshausen for Eau Claire. Windeshausen added another two-run homer in the third inning along with Jack Sandvik's solo shot to cut down their deficit further.

Windeshausen finished Game 1 with four RBIs while he, Sandvik and Connor Weik each recorded two hits.

The Blugolds will conclude their season facing off against UW-La Crosse over May 3rd and May 4th at Carson Park starting with Friday’s doubleheader beginning at noon.

For more updates on this season's games visit Blugolds.com or download our app "Blugold Sports".