Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's softball team successfully swept their doubleheader against UW-Superior on Wednesday at Bollinger Fields. The Blugolds secured a 16-1 victory in five innings followed by a 7-2 win. Key to these victories was Molly Marquardt, a sophomore from Manhattan, Illinois, who set a new record for UW-Eau Claire's single-season doubles, achieving her 18th double during the games.

Jill Schoenike held the previous record with 17 doubles in 1997. With 28 doubles in her career now, Marquardt is approaching the top 10 on the Blugolds' leaderboard for career doubles.

The Blugolds scored four or more runs in four different innings throughout the doubleheader. In Game 1, the team scored five runs in the first inning, including a two-RBI double by Marquardt. Emmy Olson, a freshman from Onalaska, Wisconsin, contributed with a bases-clearing triple.

The scoring continued in the second inning with five more runs, highlighted by Olson's two-RBI single. A two-RBI double by Siri Springer in the third inning helped the Blugolds secure four additional runs. The game concluded prematurely after two more runs in the fifth inning.

Senior Jacie Schultz from Lake Crystal, Minnesota, pitched three innings, earning the win with four strikeouts. Paige Lathrop, Hailey Hagedorn, and Olson each secured three hits.

The Blugolds widened their lead in Game 2 with four runs in the third inning. Contributions included run-scoring hits from Lathrop, Hagedorn, and freshman Ava Kozlovsky from Carol Stream, Illinois. Despite the Yellowjackets scoring in the fourth inning, Lathrop and Hagedorn were pivotal with their RBI singles in the following innings, ensuring the Blugolds' victory.

Sophomore Lauren Trottier from Burlington, Wisconsin, claimed the win for Game 2, pitching 5.1 innings with three strikeouts. Lathrop had four hits in the game and totaled seven hits for the day.

The Blugolds will resume their Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play by hosting UW-Platteville this Saturday, April 26, during their Alumni Day event at Bollinger Fields, with the first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.

Blugolds fans can follow the team's progress throughout the season on their official website, Blugolds.com, through the Blugold Sports app, or on their respective social media platforms.