Blue Devil softball opens conference play by hosting UW-Eau Claire

UW-Eau Claire 7, UW-Stout 1 | UW-Eau Claire 6, UW-Stout 0

MENOMONIE (April 8, 2021) - Just before introductions were to occur, the heavens opened and dumped a downpour on UW-Stout's Alumni Field, pushing the WIAC softball opener between UW-Stout and UW-Eau Claire back nearly an hour. The downpour did the Blue Devils no favors as Eau Claire captured the day, 7-1, 6-0, Thursday afternoon.

Both games were tight in the beginning, but the Blugolds found a couple of key innings in both games to take the day.

Eau Claire (13-7, 2-0 WIAC) opened the day with a single run in the first inning of game one. The next two innings went scoreless until Eau Claire scored a single run in the fourth, then broke open for four runs on five hits, including a home run and a triple, in the fifth. Eau Claire added another run in the sixth, then looked like they were going to add more in the seventh, but the Blugolds left the bases loaded.

The Blue Devils (3-9, 0-2 WIAC) broke up the shutout in the seventh inning. With two outs, Kaylee Peterson smacked a double to center field and came home when Shannon Jones' hit to center was misplayed.

Eau Claire held a 12-4 advantage in hits as Stout used three pitchers. Sommer Kunstmann took the loss, working the first four innings, then came back to finish the final inning, striking out two. Mackensie Wolterstorff pitched two innings, striking out five. 

Eau Claire had two hits each from Sadie Erickson, Abbey Place, Maria Back and Taylor Nelson. Morgan Sivek went the distance for the win.

In game two, Eau Claire scored a run in the second, then jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the fourth, added two more hits in the sixth and one in the seventh and held a 14-4 advantage in hits. Stout drew five walks, but stranded seven runners. Eau Claire stranded 10 runners.

Stout resumes conference play when they travel to UW-La Crosse, Saturday, April 10.