Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball team faced a challenging match against Trine University in the NCAA Tournament Regionals on Saturday. Competing for a spot in the NCAA Super Regional round, the Blugolds were tasked with overcoming No. 4 ranked Trine University. The game, played under windy conditions, ended with a 9-1 victory for Trine in five innings.

Trine University's strong start saw them scoring four runs on six hits and one error in the first inning, which put early pressure on UW-Eau Claire's defense. The Blugolds responded in the second inning when Claire Beck hit a home run on the first pitch to reduce the deficit to 4-1. Norah Kutnick followed with a double but was left stranded at third base after three consecutive outs.

In the bottom of the third inning, Trine capitalized on their momentum and added five more runs through three home runs. Jacie Schultz took the loss for Eau Claire and recorded one strikeout during her two innings pitched. Lauren Trottier provided relief by shutting out all five batters she faced.

Despite the loss, several UW-Eau Claire players received individual honors. Kenna Strunsee, Molly Marquardt, and Brooklyn Swanepoel were named to the regional's All-Tournament Team.

UW-Eau Claire concluded their season with an overall record of 29-16, including a conference record of 7-7 and a postseason record of 2-3. Their appearance in this regional final placed them among the last 32 Division III teams competing in this year's NCAA Tournament.