17th-Ranked Eagles Outmuscle Titans

Six different players blasted home runs for UW-La Crosse as it swept a doubleheader over the UW-Oshkosh women's softball team on Saturday (April 10) at the Oshkosh Sports Complex. The game marked the WIAC opener for both schools.

The Eagles (16-6/2-0 WIAC) used three home runs to take the first contest, 9-2, and captured game two over the Titans (8-10/0-2 WIAC), 13-5, after marking an additional three blasts.

Katie Keyes marked the first round-tripper for the Eagles in game one with her solo shot to left field. The Titans got on the board later in the second frame with a two-run knock from Whitney Tornow (Sr. • Neenah).

After tallying another run in the third frame, UW-La Crosse received a two-run blast from Katie Pietrowiak and a solo blast from Lauren Schaller in the fourth inning for a 5-2 advantage. Rachel Croak and Rachel Weyer each tallied a run to close out the frame with the Eagles holding a 7-2 lead. A run-scoring single from Croak in the fifth inning and a run by Natalie Stoll concluded the scoring in game one.

The complete-game win belonged to Heather Schultz, who allowed two runs and five hits while striking out one and walking three. Ashley Kowalewski (So. • Greenfield) took the loss for the Titans, pitching 3.1 innings and giving up five runs on eight hits. Tatum Schultz (Fr. • Oshkosh) tossed the final 3.2 innings for UW-Oshkosh, allowing four runs and five hits.

The Titans tallied five hits in game one, led by three from Tornow. UW-La Crosse marked eight hits in the contest, led by three apiece from Croak and Stoll.

UW-Oshkosh marked first in the second contest thanks to a run-scoring double from Sydnee Wyss (Jr. • Monroe) in the first frame. The Eagles used two bases-loaded walks and a two-run double from Weyer to take a 4-1 advantage in the second frame.

UW-La Crosse, ranked 17th in the NCAA Division III by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, marked its fourth home run of the day with a smash from Cara Salm in the third inning.

Jamie Braden (Jr. • Lake Villa, Ill.) rapped a run-scoring single later in the third frame to cut the Titans' deficit to 5-2. The Eagles answered in the fifth inning, using a two-run single from Schaller and a two-run smash to center field from Croak to make the score 9-2.

A run-scoring single from Croak and a three-run home run from Weyer, the Eagles sixth blast of the day, added four more runs in the seventh frame. A blast from Tornow added three runs for the Titans later in the seventh and created the game's final score.

Ashley Veroeven pitched the opening 2.1 innings for the Eagles, allowing two runs on four hits. Lacey Probst earned the victory, pitching 4.2 innings, allowing three runs, five hits and striking out two batters. Courtney Wautier (Fr. • Brussels) took the loss for UW-Oshkosh, pitching 4.2 innings and allowing nine runs and 11 hits. Kowalewski pitched the final 2.1 frames for the Titans.

UW-La Crosse notched 15 hits in game two, receiving three apiece from Croak, Salm and Stoll. The Titans marked nine hits in the contest, led by three from Tornow and two from Wyss.