Box Score Menomonie, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse softball team continued its 2014 season with a 3-2 victory over UW-Eau Claire Saturday afternoon in an elimination game at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Tournament at UW-Stout's Alumni Field.  The Eagles improve to 23-12 on the season and will face UW-Stout Sunday at 10 a.m.  The winner advances to face undefeated UW-Whitewater for the tournament championship game.  With its loss Saturday, UW-Eau Claire finishes its season at 20-16.

UW-L took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning Saturday. Kelli Anderson walked to start the inning and advanced to second on Kallie Krech's one-out bunt single.  Anderson and Krech both moved up on a wild pitch.  After a groundout, Katie Fink singled to knock in Anderson and Krech to make it 2-0.

The Eagles added a run in the bottom of the third. Emilie Wlitzius reached on a UW-Eau Claire error and was replaced by pinch-runner Jenny Gallagher.  Anderson followed with an RBI double to score Gallagher for a 3-0 UW-L lead.

UW-Eau Claire cut the lead to 3-1 in the top of the fourth inning a Nikki Brooks scored on a Casey Arnold groundout.  The Blugolds made it a one-run game in the seventh.  Sam Noetzelman singled to start the inning and advanced to second on pinch-hitter Taylor Pierce's bunt single. Both runners moved up on a Emily Ruegemer sacrifice bunt.  Noetzelman scored on a Kenzie Winning sacrifice fly to make it 3-2, but UW-Eau Claire left the potential tying run on third base to end the game. 

Megan Nelson (9-6) earned the victory for UW-L, going 4.0 innings, allowing four hits and one run.  Jessie Carignan picked up her third save of the season.  She went 3.0 innings, allowing three hits, one run and one walk. Alecia Faber and Nelson each went 2-for-4 while Fink had two RBI. 

Lauren Blasczyk (4-4) suffered the loss for UW-Eau Claire, pitching 4.0 innings, allowing eight hits, three runs (two earned) and two walks with two strikeouts. Noetzelman finished 2-for-3 with a run scored while Winning went 2-for-2 with an RBI.

UW-L returns to action Sunday, May 4 at UW-Stout in the WIAC Tournament.