Titans Split Twinbill With Warhawks

Emily Mallek drove in the go-ahead run in the fifth inning of the nightcap as the UW-Oshkosh softball team split two games with 11th-ranked UW-Whitewater on Wednesday (April 15) at UW-Oshkosh softball Park.

UW-Oshkosh (20-8, 6-2 WIAC) erased an early four-run deficit and hung on to win, 6-4, in the second game. In the first contest, UW-Whitewater (20-6, 9-3 WIAC) starting pitcher Bekka Houda lost a no-hit bid with two outs in the seventh inning and settled for a one-hitter in the Warhawks' 2-0 victory.

In the opener, UW-Whitewater opened up a 4-0 advantage on Kelynn Sporer's three-run homer in the first inning.

Sporer started in the pitcher's circle for the Warhawks and retired nine straight Titans after yielding a leadoff walk to Haley Bayreuther in the first frame.

UW-Oshkosh starting pitcher Clare Robbe settled in after a shaky first inning, allowing just two baserunners from the second through fourth innings.

Titan pinch hitter Taylor Loew cut the Warhawk lead to 4-1 on a run-scoring groundout with the bases loaded in the fourth inning, and UW-Oshkosh completed the comeback with four runs off of Sporer in the fifth frame.

UW-Oshkosh's Katie Koepsel brought in a run after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the fifth inning. Hayden Krueger followed with a two-run single to tie the score at 4, and Mallek delivered an RBI double to give the Titans their first lead of the day and chase Sporer.

The Titans added an insurance run in the sixth inning on Erika Berry's two-out, run-scoring single.

UW-Whitewater loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh inning, but Robbe induced a fly out off the bat of Amy Ricci to end the game.

Berry and Mallek both had two of UW-Oshkosh's eight hits.

Robbe (8-5) earned the victory by scattering seven hits and striking out three batters in seven innings pitched.

Sporer (8-3) took the loss for the Warhawks, ceding five runs (four earned) in 4.1 innings pitched.

Deven DuCharme, Mallory Klotz and Sporer each had two of UW-Whitewater's seven hits.

In the first game, Houda outdueled UW-Oshkosh starting pitcher Sara Brunlieb (12-3), who allowed just four hits and suffered a loss for the first time in 11 decisions.

Ricci registered the game's first hit on a run-scoring double in the fourth inning. Klotz plated the Warhawks' second run on a two-out RBI single in the seventh frame.

Houda lost her perfect game when she hit Bayreuther with a pitch to lead off the UW-Oshkosh fourth inning, and Mallek spoiled Houda's no-hit bid with a two-out single in the seventh frame.

Houda (10-3) recorded seven strikeouts and no walks while none of the three Titan baserunners reached second base.

UW-Oshkosh travels to UW-River Falls for two games on Saturday (April 18).