Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball team extended its winning streak to 10 games with two victories at the Space Coast Spring Games in Cocoa Beach, Florida. The Blugolds secured a 13-10 win against Western Connecticut State in an eight-inning game and followed it with a 9-6 victory over Millikin at Pride Stadium.

In the first game, the Blugolds faced a late challenge from Western Connecticut State. They were leading 9-7 going into the bottom of the seventh inning when the Wolves managed to tie the game, forcing extra innings. In response, UW-Eau Claire scored four runs in the top of the eighth inning. Kenna Strunsee contributed with an RBI single, Molly Marquardt added a two-RBI double, and Emma Raikowski drove in another run with a groundout. Although Western Connecticut State scored once more in their half of the eighth inning, they could not close the gap further.

Jacie Schultz earned her sixth win of the season by pitching 1.2 innings in relief. Strunsee, Marquardt, Siri Springer, Norah Kutnink, and Brooklyn Swanepoel each had two hits during this game. Marquardt also drove in three runs while Strunsee stole two bases.

Against Millikin, UW-Eau Claire took control early by scoring nine runs in the first inning alone. The team sent 13 batters to home plate during that frame. Marquardt hit two doubles for three RBIs; Mila Photopoulos contributed a two-RBI double; Paige Lathrop hit two RBI singles as well.

Millikin narrowed their deficit by scoring three times in the fifth inning but couldn't overcome it completely due to Schultz's effective closing performance—she pitched three innings without allowing any earned runs—and Claire Beck's four innings on duty which earned her credit for winning this match-up too.

Lathrop finished up with three hits overall while both Marquardt and Megan Patterson added two hits each throughout these games.

The Blugolds will conclude their participation at Space Coast Spring Games on Friday March 21st when they face Hamilton College at 12:15 p.m., followed by Rutgers-Newark at 2:30 p.m., both matches taking place at Blue Louisville Field.

For more updates on Blugold sports activities throughout this season visit blugolds.com or download our app "Blugold Sports" available across social media platforms including Twitter Instagram Facebook among others