Robbe's Shutout Concludes A perfect Day
Clare Robbe pitched a three-hit shutout, Katie Koepsel drove in her 100th career run and the UW-Oshkosh softball team won its two games on Tuesday (March 24) in Clermont, Fla.
UW-Oshkosh (7-5) downed Kalamazoo College (Mich.), 6-2, in the first game of the day, and Robbe's gem silenced Colby College (Maine), 3-0, in the second contest.
Erika Berry led the Titan offense with four hits and four runs batted in on the day.
In the first game, Kalamazoo College led 1-0 before recording an out in the top of the first inning, but UW-Oshkosh starting pitcher Sara Brunlieb retired 11 of the next 12 Hornet batters, and the Titan offense tallied two runs in each of the first two innings.
Berry drove in two with a two-out single in the bottom of the first inning, and Koepsel plated the eventual game-winning run on a sacrifice fly in the second frame. The run batted in was Koepsel's 12th of the season and 100th of her four-year career. Hayden Krueger followed Koepsel's milestone with a run-scoring double for a 4-1 advantage.
Kimberly Lohre was touched for a run after relieving Brunlieb in the pitcher's circle at the start of the fifth inning, but the Titans increased their lead to 6-2 on Berry's run-scoring double – her third hit and third run batted in of the contest.
Brunlieb, who relieved Lohre with two outs and the bases loaded in the sixth inning, coaxed a groundball to end the sixth and left two Hornets stranded in the final frame.
Berry ended the game 3-for-4 at the plate with two of UW-Oshkosh's season-high seven stolen bases. Haley Bayreuther added two hits, one walk, one run and two steals.
Brunlieb earned the win by allowing one run on four hits in 5.1 innings pitched. She struck out four and walked one.
Kalamazoo College (3-6) starting pitcher Taylor Clements took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks in one inning pitched.
In the second contest, Robbe faced two over the minimum and struck out seven in recording her second shutout of the season. She gave up singles in the second, fourth and sixth innings, and one Colby College baserunner reached second base.
Krueger drove in the only run Robbe would need on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first inning.
The Mules' cleanup hitter Victoria Sansone started the second frame with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, reached third on a groundout, but was caught stealing home by Robbe and catcher Elizabeth Fonk.
Fonk put UW-Oshkosh up 2-0 on a run-scoring single in the fourth inning, and the Titans plated the final run of the contest on a squeeze bunt by Berry later in the frame.
Koepsel went 2-for-2 against Colby College and lifted her batting average to a team-leading .486.
Megan Michie took the loss for Colby College (3-3), allowing three runs on five hits in six innings pitched.
UW-Oshkosh returns to action against Middlebury College (Vt.) and Carthage College on Thursday (March 26) in Clermont.