Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball team competed in a doubleheader within the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference against UW-La Crosse at Bollinger Fields. Each team claimed victory in one of the games. In the opening game, the Blugolds fell short, losing 4-3, but they managed to secure a 2-1 win in the second game during their first home appearances of the season.

The initial game was closely contested. UW-La Crosse took the lead early with a sacrifice fly in the first inning, only for Kenna Strunsee from UW-Eau Claire to equalize with a solo home run in the same frame. The Blugolds captured a 3-1 lead in the second inning with a solo homer by Hailey Hagedorn and an RBI single by Paige Lathrop. However, UW-La Crosse responded by tying the game in the fourth inning with two RBI doubles. They secured the win with a decisive run-scoring single in the seventh inning. Hagedorn excelled with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate, and Strunsee along with Lathrop added two hits each. Claire Beck pitched six innings, striking out eight and yielding three runs.

During the second game, all the scoring came in the first inning for UW-Eau Claire. Strunsee scored via a wild pitch, followed by Miranda Gernander’s RBI single, which set the tone for their 2-0 lead. Jacie Schultz earned the victory with five innings of one-run pitching, complemented by Emma Sather’s two scoreless innings that resulted in a save. Norah Kutnink and Brooklyn Swanepoel contributed two hits each. Strunsee also stole a base, bringing her career total to 76, tied for second in program history.

The Blugolds are set to face off against UW-Whitewater next. The upcoming doubleheader will be held at the van Steenderen Complex, starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 19.

For updates, follow the Blugolds' progress throughout the season at Blugolds.com, on the Blugold Sports app, and social media platforms including Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.