The Falcon softball team split an important WIAC doubleheader at UW-Eau Claire on Thursday afternoon.

Both games ended 2-1 with the Falcons winning the first game.

UWRF, now 18-13 overall and 9-3 in WIAC play, is scheduled to host UW-Oshkosh on Saturday at 2 p.m., at Ramer Field.

The Falcons are now tied for first place in the WIAC standings with UW-Whitewater. The Falcons are scheduled to host the Warhawks on Sunday at noon at Ramer Field.

River Falls 2, Eau Claire 1
The Falcons started the day out with a tight 2-1 win in game one. The Falcons scored two runs on six hits and made one error. Eau Claire scored one run on four hits and committed one error.

Eau Claire took a 1-0 lead with a run in the fourth. Sara Baumgartner led off with a triple to right and later scored on a bunt single.

In the seventh the Falcons were down to their last at bat, and last out, before they were able to score. Amanda Ryder (Menomonie, WI, Menomonie) led off the seventh with an infield single. She advanced to second on an infield out. Jamie Klein (Elk River, MN, Elk River) then hit a clutch single to center and Ryder went to third on the play. After another out, putting the Falcons down to their last chance, Dana Book (Brooklyn Center, MN, Champlin Park) singled to score both Ryder and Lily Buckley (Menomonie, Menomonie), who had pinch ran for Klein.

The Blugolds got a runner to second in the bottom of the seventh, but Falcon pitcher Rose Tusa (Roseville, MN, St. Anthony Village) slammed the door shut to end the game. A lead-off walk and a sacrifice put the runner on second with one out. But Tusa came up big striking out the next two batters to end the game.

Tusa won her eighth straight decision. She worked all seven innings and allowed one earned run and four hits. She struck out eight and walked just one.

Emma Wishua took the loss for UWEC. She worked 6.2 innings and allowed two earned runs. She walked two and struck out two.

Eau Claire 2, River Falls 1
UWEC scored single unearned runs in the seventh and eighth innings to get the win.

The Falcons scored one run on nine hits and made two errors. UWEC scored two runs on six hits and they made one error.

The Falcons got onto the scoreboard scoring a run after two were out in the fifth. Book singled to left and scored when Patty Olson (Roseville, MN, Roseville) doubled to right center.

The Blugolds tied the game with a run in the seventh. The leadoff runner reached first on a Falcon error and the runner later scored when Sara Baumgartner singled to right.

In the EC eighth a Blugold reached first on another Falcon error and later scored the winning run when Nikki Bromelkamp tripled.

EC had a runner reach third in the third inning before the inning ended. In the fourth and fifth innings Eau Claire had runners reach second but did not score.

In the sixth Hayley Buchanan (Eden Prairie, MN, Eden Prairie) led off with a single to right and went to second on a wild pitch. She advanced to third on an infield out, but the next two Falcon hitters grounded out to end the inning.

Tusa took the loss on the mound and she is now 12-6. Both runs she allowed were unearned. She allowed six hits, walked two and struck out four.

EC's Ashley Meinen got the win in relief. She worked one inning and is now 8-5.