DAVENPORT, Fla. - The Elmhurst University baseball team dropped a 5-13 decision to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Monday morning on day three of the RussMatt Central Florida Invite.

Elmhurst (2-9) jumped out to an early 3-1 advantage following the first inning of play, and stayed in the game with the score tied at four after two, but UW-Eau Claire (1-6) was able to control the game in the ensuing seven innings to take the morning game over the Bluejays.

The Bluejays were powered by Freddie March, who went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, while Evan Johnson matched March's line while adding one RBI in the game. The catcher combination of Erik Malott and Lucas Pasakarnis also added one RBI each in the game.

On the mound, Zach Keplar took the loss with eight earned runs across four innings, but the Bluejay bullpen settled in following the first 5.2 innings of the game, with the combination of Davis Maifield, Nolan Brozyna, and Ryan McGinley pitching the final 3.1 innings of play giving up four hits and one run while adding a pair of strikeouts.

Eau Claire got one on the board in the top of the first to grab an early lead, but Elmhurst would get the bats going in their half of the first. After Marty Fraga singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Zach Kolb, Malott would single Fraga in to knot the game at one. After Swiderek reached first on a throwing error, March took advantage and launched his third home run of the season to right-center field, a two-run shot that put Elmhurst up 3-1. 

The designated visitors would respond with a trio of runs in the second to take a 4-3 lead, but Elmhurst responded in their half inning to tie the game at four from a Johnson solo home run to right field, the first of his collegiate career.

From there, Eau Claire would score nine unanswered runs to take a 13-4 lead, while Elmhurst would only plate one more run in the bottom of the ninth off a Pasakarnis ground out to fall, 5-13.

UP NEXT

Elmhurst will take on Knox College tomorrow morning, March 19, at 10:30 a.m. CT in Auburndale, Fla.

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