A softball pitcher’s first collegiate win is almost always memorable. But for UW-Eau Claire freshman Andrea Neuville, her first career victory will have a little more meaning.

Neuville threw a no-hitter Saturday in her fourth collegiate start, leading the Blugolds (7-10) to an 8-0 victory over Concordia University (Ill.) and capping off a perfect weekend for Eau Claire.

Neuville said she felt good pitching in the game, but said she didn’t know she had a no-hitter until assistant coach Travis Kramolis told the team on the bus after the game.

“It was surprising,” Neuville said. “My changeup was really working, but (the game) didn’t feel like anything special.”

There were a couple of close calls during the game that were called errors instead of hits, but she wasn’t thinking about a no-hitter, she said.

Neuville had nine strikeouts and walked four in the game.

Junior shortstop Emilee Planert said she knew Neuville was pitching well, but also didn’t know she pitched a no-hitter.

“When we found out about it on the bus, we all cheered,” she said. “We were so happy that she could get her first win with a no-hitter.”

The win over Concordia was Eau Claire’s third straight win in the Augustana Invitational in Rock Island, Ill.

On Friday, the Blugolds opened the tournament with an 8-0 win over Marian College and a 7-2 victory over host Augustana College.

Freshman pitcher Molly Johnson earned the shutout for Eau Claire against Marian, giving up three hits and two walks to go with three strikeouts. Senior Jannah Grinnell hit a two-run homer in the third inning to break the game open.

Freshman Rhianna Jacobs and junior Beth Steward each had a home run and two RBIs against Concordia, and Planert went 3-for-4 with a triple and one RBI.

Prior to going to Illinois, the Blugolds played a pair of games at UW-La Crosse against their WIAC-rival Eagles.

The Blugolds won the first game 6-0 behind a shutout from senior pitcher Kim Czapla, and had a 5-4 lead in the second game when it was suspended due to darkness.

The suspended game will be made up April 12 or 13.

The Blugolds were scheduled to play in the championship game at the Augustana Invitational, but the final round of competition was canceled due to wintery weather.

Even without the tournament championship, it was still a successful weekend for the Blugolds.

“(The weekend) was a big momentum builder for us,” Planert said. “It helps to get some wins on our record.”

On Wednesday, the Blugolds will have their first home games of the season in a doubleheader against the University of St. Thomas (Minn.).

The Tommies, who were ranked No. 4 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association preseason poll, are 12-3 on the season. They currently are unranked in the NFCA poll.

“It will be nice to finally play at home,” Planert said. “We’re looking forward to getting some more fans.”