Titans Repeat Performances With Blossoms, Lions
Two run-scoring hits from Jamie Braden (Jr. • Lake Villa, Ill.) helped the UW-Oshkosh softball team split a doubleheader with the University of Arkansas-Monticello and Freed-Hardeman University (Tenn.) on Wednesday (March 24) in Pensacola, Fla.
The Titans came up short in the opening contest, 11-4, after the Blossoms (30-5) tallied eight runs on seven hits during the second inning. UW-Oshkosh (5-5) scored three runs in the opening frame of game two en route to a 4-0 victory over the Lions (9-13). In yesterday's matchups, the Titans dropped a 14-0 decision to the Blossoms while earning an 8-0 victory against the Lions.
The University of Arkansas-Monticello scored its first run of the contest with an RBI double from Sarah Hayslip. Meagan Wilson added another run on a base knock a short time later.
The Blossoms held a 3-0 advantage when Emilie Hobbs brought two more home with a single to right field. Kayla Jackson then blasted a two-run double and Hayslip added a run-scoring single to close out the second frame.
UW-Oshkosh answered in the third inning, with Lindsey Mikulecky (Fr. • Union Grove) and Kaelyn Hogan (Fr. • Greendale) each marking on a wild pitch. A two-run home run from Sydnee Wyss (Jr. • Monroe) cut the Titans' deficit to 8-4.
The Blossoms recorded three more runs in the fifth frame, starting with a sacrifice fly from Jennifer Hickman. A two-run double from Becca Tipton ended the inning and created the game's final score.
Kayla Jackson earned the complete-game win for the Blossoms, allowing four runs on five hits, while striking out four batters. Courtney Wautier (Fr. • Brussels) took the loss for UW-Oshkosh, surrendering eight runs on seven hits in two innings. Tatum Schultz (Fr. • Oshkosh) pitched the final four frames for the Titans, giving up three runs and six hits.
A sacrifice fly from Whitney Tornow (Sr. • Neenah) started game two, giving the Titans an early advantage. A two-run knock from Braden upped the UW-Oshkosh cushion to 3-0 at the end of the first frame.
During the fifth inning, with Lisa Hart (So. • Oshkosh) on base, the Titans tallied their final run of the contest when Braden smashed a run-scoring double to right field.
The Lions had two more chances to tighten the game up, but solid pitching from Ashley Kowalewski (So. • Greenfield) sealed the victory for the Titans in the sixth and seventh frames. Kowalewski earned the complete-game win for UW-Oshkosh, allowing just three hits in the contest. Britney Caldwell took the loss for Freed-Hardeman University, allowing four runs on nine hits.
The Titans registered nine hits, receiving two apiece from Braden, Hart and Wyss. The Lions tallied three hits in the contest, with one each from Brandi Edwards, Traci Gibbons and Amber Van Sandt.