The UW-Eau Claire softball team faced off against UW-Oshkosh on Monday and UW-Whitewater on Tuesday.

The games were originally scheduled to be on Saturday and Sunday, but they were postponed because of forecasted rain, according to Blugold Athletics.

Third-year right fielder Shaelyn Talley said the team was disappointed about the postponed games.

“It was a little disappointing because moving to a weekday makes it a little more difficult for fans to come, but we still had people show up and it was good to have them here,” Talley said.

Third-year second baseman Megan Maruna said the team used the postponed games as an opportunity to keep practicing and get better.

Doubleheader against UW-Oshkosh

The Blugolds played the first game against the UW-Oshkosh Titans at 1:00 p.m. on Monday on Bollinger Field, according to Blugold Athletics.

First-year outfielder Kenna Strunsee and third-year infielder Sadie Erickson scored in the bottom of the first inning 

The Titans scored in the top of the third inning and Strunsee scored again in the bottom of the inning.

Maruna homered to right field in the bottom of the fourth inning and Erickson scored again in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Blugold Athletics reported the final score of the first game to be the Blugolds winning against the Titans 5-1.

The second game against the Titans was at 3:00 p.m. on Monday on Bollinger Field, according to Blugold Athletics.

In the bottom of the first inning, Erickson and Strunsee scored and fourth-year catcher and outfielder Ellie Decker homered to center field.

Second-year outfielder Alexis Oelfke scored in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Blugold Athletics reported the final score as the Blugolds beating the Titans 4-0.

Head coach Leslie Huntington reflected on Monday’s doubleheader.

“We played exceptionally well, we pitched well and we had timely hitting,” Huntington said. “We played good defense and I was very pleased with the doubleheader against UW-Oshkosh.”

Talley said the team celebrated senior day on Monday.

“We wanted to go into those games and then come out with some wins for our three seniors,” Talley said. “We put together some things and decorations to honor them and what they’ve done for us for the past four years.”

Decker, pitcher Jackie Carlucci and first baseman Maria Back are the seniors on the team, according to Blugold Athletics.

Doubleheader against UW-Whitewater

The first game of the doubleheader against the UW-Whitewater Warhawks was at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday on Bollinger Field, according to Blugold Athletics.

In the bottom of the first inning, Strunsee scored.

The Warhawks scored in the top of the second inning, and first-year catcher and infielder Alli Schoenrock scored in the bottom of the inning.

In the fifth inning, the Warhawks scored four more times.

The final score as the Blugolds losing 2-6 to the Warhawks.

‘We came out flat and it was kind of a disappointing day today, after such a great day yesterday,” Huntington said. “I’m not upset with the losses, but I’m disappointed with the way we came out and performed.”

The second game against the Warhawks started at 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday on Bollinger Field.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Warhawks scored five times.

Erickson, Decker, first-year catcher Megan Patterson and second-year outfielder and infielder Jayden Hodgson scored in the bottom of the sixth inning.

In the top of the seventh inning, the Warhawks scored again.

Huntington said it was difficult recovering from the Warhawks scoring in the fourth and sixth innings.

“It’s tough to give up that many runs in one inning and find a way to win, so we’ve got to find a way to cut down on those big innings going into the weekend so that we give ourselves a chance to win,” Huntington said.

Blugold Athletics reported the final score as the Blugolds losing to the Warhawks 5-6.

Huntington said the team will be playing the first games in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament this weekend.

“Hopefully the losses are a little fuel that we’ll be able to take to the conference tournament this weekend to light a fire and make a run,” Huntington said.

Maruna said she is looking forward to putting on great games and fighting their way one game at a time.

“We’re going to have to pitch well, play good defense and have timely hitting, ” Huntington said. “If we can do those three things, I’m confident we can win the conference tournament.” 

The Blugolds return to action for the first game of the conference tournament on Friday, May 6 in La Crosse.

Kasper can be reached at [email protected].