Titan Bats Come Alive For Three Wins

The UW-Oshkosh women's softball team totaled 35 runs and 43 hits to earn a three-game sweep over Graceland University (Iowa), Macalester College (Minn.) and Grinnell College (Iowa) on Saturday (April 3) in Grinnell, Iowa.

The Titans (8-8) took the first contest, 13-7, after Amie Heinzelman (Sr. • Monroe) blasted a bases-loaded double in the fifth frame. UW-Oshkosh later posted a 15-5 victory over Macalester College and a 7-0 triumph over Grinnell College as Whitney Tornow (Sr. • Neenah) marked seven hits between the two games.

Jamie Braden (Jr. • Lake Villa, Ill.) smashed a run-scoring double to start off game one for UW-Oshkosh. Sydnee Wyss (Jr. • Monroe) and Braden continued the scoring when they each knocked in a run to begin the third frame. The Titans upped their advantage to 5-0 later in the inning when Brittany Roen (Fr. • Beaver Dam) and Tornow both scored on an error by Graceland University (3-11-1).

The Yellowjackets answered in the fifth frame, scoring twice on run-scoring singles from Sophia Ringsdorf and Erin Polte. After Ringsdorf tallied on a fielder's choice, Alyssa Smith crushed a three-run double to take a 6-5 lead. Smith later scored on a sacrifice fly from Cheyenne Proudfoot.

The Titans started their half of the fifth with three runners on base, and a short time later Heinzelman smashed her bases-clearing double. Wyss gave the Titans a 9-7 lead to end the inning, bringing in Heinzelman on her base knock to left field. Marti Meyer (So. • Verona) and Wyss each had a two-run hit in the sixth frame to create the game's final score.

Courtney Wautier (Fr. • Brussels) pitched 5.1 innings for the Titans, giving up seven runs on seven hits. Tatum Schultz (Fr. • Oshkosh) claimed the victory, allowing one run in 2.2 innings. Ariel Kirk pitched 5.1 innings for the Yellowjackets, allowing nine runs on 10 hits. Sinead Miller took the loss, allowing three runs in 0.2 frames.

The Titans scored in their first two chances of game two, with Wyss smashing a home run in the first and Meyer scoring on a passed ball in the second. Tornow brought in two more during the third inning with her triple to right field, while Meyer drilled a run-scoring single to end the frame.

Amanda Cagan had a run-scoring hit to get Macalester College (4-16) on the board in the third inning. Kelly Koebler (So. • Janesville) and Roen each marked in the next two frames for the Titans, who gained a 7-1 advantage.

The Scots tallied two more in the fifth frame with Crystal Barriga's run-scoring double. UW-Oshkosh later opened the sixth frame with one run batted in apiece from Tornow, Meyer and Hayley Freimuth (So. • Combined Locks). Heinzelman knocked in two runs for the Titans on her hit to center field. Wyss sent two more home with her run-scoring triple and Lisa Hart (So. • Oshkosh) tallied another to end the sixth frame.

Macalester College added the contest's final two runs in the sixth inning, with Monica Keaney and Amanda Knopf each touching home plate in the frame.

Schultz earned the complete-game win for the Titans, allowing 11 hits and five runs while striking out six. The loss belonged to Olivia Abbott, who surrendered seven runs on seven hits in five innings. Chloe Souza pitched the sixth inning for the Scots.

UW-Oshkosh struck first against Grinnell College (2-12), taking an early lead on Hart's run-scoring double in the first frame. The Titans received run-scoring hits from Tornow and Erin Kelly (Fr. • La Crosse) in the third frame for a 3-0 advantage.

Lindsey Mikulecky (Fr. • Union Grove) tripled to start the sixth inning and later marked on a run-scoring single from Braden. Heinzelman blasted a two-run double and Tornow added a run-scoring base knock to round out the contest.

Wautier earned the complete-game win for UW-Oshkosh, allowing only two hits while striking out seven batters. Amanda Stromquist took the loss for Grinnell College, giving up 11 hits and seven runs in 5.1 innings. Hannah Bauman pitched the final 1.2 innings for the Pioneers.

The Titans tallied 43 hits on the day, led by Tornow with eight, Wyss with seven, Heinzelman with five and Hart with four.