Titans Walk Off With Sweep Of Eagles
Elizabeth Fonk delivered a two-out, run-scoring single in the bottom of the 10th inning during the second game and Abby Menting drove in three runs during the opener as UW-Oshkosh swept a softball doubleheader over UW-La Crosse on Sunday (April 17) at the UW-Oshkosh Softball Park.
UW-Oshkosh (16-4, 8-0 WIAC) defeated UW-La Crosse (19-12, 4-4) by scores of 4-1 in the opener and 1-0 in 10 innings during the nightcap.
The Titans, who extended their winning streak to nine games, remain alone atop the WIAC standings.
UW-La Crosse outhit UW-Oshkosh, 15-9, in the two games. The Eagles did not record an extra-base hit while the Titans scored all five of their runs with two outs.
UW-Oshkosh's Sara Brunlieb (9-2) was credited with the pitching victories in both games. She tossed a complete game in the opening contest and entered to record the final out in the top of the 10th inning during the second game.
In the first game, Brunlieb and Eagles starting pitcher Megan Nelson were locked in a scoreless duel through four innings before UW-Oshkosh tallied four runs on just two hits in the home half of the fifth frame.
Titan Clare Robbe drew a one-out walk against Nelson in the decisive fifth inning. Robbe was lifted for pinch runner Brianna Witter, who advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Tanya Hammitt. After Haley Bayreuther walked, Erika Berry laced a single to center field to score Witter with the game's first run.
Heather Grelle relieved Nelson with two outs and Titans at first and second base. Lauren Torborg then reached on a throwing error by Eagles shortstop Sydney Schemenauer to load the bases for Menting, who lifted a bases-clearing double.
Brunlieb allowed consecutive singles to pinch hitter Sarah Mueller and Emily Holldorf to lead off the UW-La Crosse sixth inning. A fly out moved Brittany Baldwin, who reentered for Mueller, to third base, and Emilie Wiltzius broke up Brunlieb's shutout bid with a sacrifice fly.
After Brunlieb retired the first two Eagles batters in the seventh inning, Schemenauer and pinch hitter Kerrigan Koch notched back-to-back singles to bring the potential tying run to the plate, but Brunlieb struck out pinch hitter Shelby Beckman to end the game.
Menting had two of the Titans' four hits, while the Eagles received hits – all singles – from seven different players.
Brunlieb recorded five strikeouts without issuing a walk on the way to her eighth complete game of the season.
Nelson was charged with the loss, yielding three runs (one earned) on three hits and four walks in 4.2 innings pitched. Grelle allowed one unearned run in 1.1 innings of relief.
In the second game, UW-Oshkosh's Paige Giese scattered eight hits in 9.2 innings pitched while her counterpart, Caitlyn Hughes, also tossed 9.2 innings before giving up the game-winning hit to Fonk.
UW-La Crosse had the game's first runner in scoring position, when Nelson drew a one-out walk and moved to second base on a wild pitch with two outs. Giese escaped the threat by getting Alecia Faber to fly out.
Bayreuther bunted for a single to lead off the UW-Oshkosh fourth inning. Berry sacrificed Bayreuther to second base, and a groundout by Lauren Torborg moved her to third base. However, Hughes squelched the Titans' first scoring chance by inducing a popup off the bat of Menting.
Giese and Hughes combined to retire the game's next 12 batters until Nelson singled to lead off the Eagles' seventh inning. Pinch runner Erin Maletzke moved to second base and Wiltzius reached first base on an error by Fonk, but Giese struck out pinch hitter Katrina O'Keefe and recorded two straight groundouts to preserve the shutout.
UW-La Crosse loaded the bases with two outs against Giese in the eighth inning. Schemenauer singled with one out. After Baldwin popped out, Giese walked Holldorf and ceded a single to Nelson, but Wiltzius lined out to shortstop to end the frame.
Giese retired the first two Eagles in the 10th inning before Holldorf and Nelson notched consecutive singles. Brunlieb then relieved Giese and got Wiltzius to fly out in foul territory down the left field line.
Caitlyn Hoerning singled with one out in the home half of the 10th inning and went to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Giese. Fonk then drilled a Hughes pitch to left field that scored Hoerning without a play at the plate.
Giese did not factor in the decision despite allowing eight hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 9.2 innings of work.
Nelson went 3-for-4 for UW-La Crosse, which left 10 runners on base in the nightcap.
Hughes suffered the loss, allowing just five singles. She struck out six and walked one.
UW-Oshkosh has swept home doubleheaders from UW-La Crosse in two of the last three seasons. The Titans also completed a sweep of the Eagles by scores of 6-5 in eight innings and 6-1 during the 2014 campaign at the UW-Oshkosh Softball Park.
The Titans head to Ripon College for a pair of games on Tuesday (April 19).