Titans Win, Lose One-Run Decisions
Kaitlyn Krol delivered the eventual game-winning hit in the Titans' opening game of the day as the UW-Oshkosh softball team split a pair of one-run decisions on Thursday (March 24) in Clermont, Fla.
Krol provided a two-out, run-scoring single in the bottom of the fifth inning and the Titans held on for a 2-1 victory over Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Fontbonne University (Mo.) then scored six unanswered runs to eke past UW-Oshkosh, 6-5, as Maddy Strickland hit the go-ahead home run in the fifth inning and earned the win in relief in the pitcher's circle.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (4-5) and Fonbonne University (4-9) both participated in last season's 62-team NCAA Division III Championship.
In the win over Massachusetts Institute of Technology, UW-Oshkosh (7-4) opened the scoring with an unearned run in the second inning before the Engineers forged a tie in the fourth.
Engineers starting pitcher Alexandra Marshall notched three strikeouts in the first inning, but Caitlin Hoerning singled to lead off the UW-Oshkosh second frame. Titans starting pitcher Paige Giese reached first base and Hoerning advanced to third on an error with one out. Hoerning scored when Haley Bayreuther reached on another error.
A single by Brianna Witter loaded the bases with one out in the Titans' second inning, but Marshall recorded a strikeout and a popup to limit UW-Oshkosh to one run in the frame.
Veldee knotted the score for the Engineers with a two-out single that plated Ali Trueworthy in the fourth inning.
Pinch hitter Elizabeth Fonk started UW-Oshkosh's decisive fifth-inning rally with a one-out single. Lauren Torborg, who reentered to run for Fonk, stole second base. Following an infield popup for the second out, Krol drove in Torborg with a hit to center field.
Sara Brunlieb, who relieved Giese to begin the sixth frame, worked around three Engineer singles over the final two innings to secure the win. Massachusetts Institute of Technology stranded the potential tying run at first base in the sixth inning and the go-ahead run at first in the seventh.
Brunlieb allowed consecutive one-out hits to Katherine Shade and Jasmin Joseph in the final inning before earning the save by recording a fly out and a popup to end the game.
Giese (2-0) was credited with the win after pitching the first five innings and allowing one run on seven hits.
Witter registered two of the Titans' seven hits, while Joseph led the Engineers with three safeties. All 17 hits in the game were singles.
Marshall (4-4) suffered the complete-game loss for Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She notched seven strikeouts without issuing a walk.
In the loss to Fontbonne University, UW-Oshkosh scored all five of its runs on four hits and three Griffins errors in the top of the third inning.
Fontbonne University responded with three unearned runs in the bottom of the third frame, a single tally in the fourth and the final two runs on Strickland's home run in the fifth.
UW-Oshkosh's five-run outburst was highlighted by Abby Menting's grand slam off of Fontbonne University starting pitcher Michelle Boyer. Bayreuther and Erika Berry singled and Torborg reached on an error ahead of Menting's team-leading fourth home run of the season.
The Titans scored their final run of the inning on a throwing error. Facing Strickland, who entered the game following Menting's home run, UW-Oshkosh had runners at first and third base via an error and a single with one out. Krol bunted toward Thomas, whose errant throw allowed Hayden Krueger to cross the plate for a 5-0 UW-Oshkosh lead.
Strickland escaped the threat by inducing a popup and foul out to end the inning with Titans on second and third base.
The Griffins had runners at first and second base with one out in the third inning against Brunlieb, the UW-Oshkosh starting pitcher. Fontbonne University scored its first run on an error off the bat of Emily Smith. With Griffins at second and third base, Menting, the UW-Oshkosh catcher, tried to pick off Smith at second base, but her errant throw allowed Maddie Cooksey to score from third base, and left fielder Torborg's throw to the infield was off the mark, allowing Smith to cross the plate.
Cooksey drove in the Griffins' fourth run with a two-out single in the fourth inning off of UW-Oshkosh relief pitcher Clare Robbe, and Strickland launched the eventual game-winning home run off of Giese, who entered the circle for Robbe to begin the fifth frame.
Lindsay Schaefer singled to lead off the Fontbonne University fifth inning, and Emelia Modglin reached on a fielder's choice for the first out ahead of Strickland's homer.
UW-Oshkosh had runners at third base with two outs in the fourth inning and with one out in the fifth, but Strickland got Menting to pop out to end the fourth frame before inducing a foul out off the bat of pinch-hitter Taylor Loew and striking out Fonk looking to escape the fifth.
Strickland retired the last eight Titans in order to preserve the victory. She allowed one unearned run on three hits and one walk in 4.2 innings of relief.
Cooksey and Schaefer both recorded two of Fontbonne University's eight hits.
Boyer allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits in 2.1 innings pitched for the Griffins.
Giese (2-1) took the loss for the Titans, yielding two runs on two hits and one walk in the sixth inning.
Brunlieb pitched the first four innings for UW-Oshkosh, ceding three runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks. Brunlieb had not allowed an earned run in her last 33.2 innings pitched until the Griffins' three-run third inning.
Robbe gave up one run on three hits in one inning pitched.
UW-Oshkosh concludes its trip to Florida on Friday (March 25) against Stevens Institute of Technology (N.J.) and Williams College (Mass.).