Blugolds Eliminate Titans From WIAC Championship
Lauren Blasczyk pitched a four-hitter to lead UW-Eau Claire to a 1-0 victory over UW-Oshkosh during an elimination contest of the WIAC Softball Championship held Saturday (May 7) in Eau Claire.
UW-Eau Claire (25-12-1) scored the game's lone run on a bunt single by Kelsey Meredith in the top of the sixth inning.
The top-seeded Blugolds will now play third-seeded UW-La Crosse (26-12) Saturday evening for the right to face fourth-seeded UW-Whitewater (26-12) in Sunday's (May 8) championship round.
Second-seeded UW-Oshkosh (26-13), which was seeking its second WIAC Championship title and first since 2008, concluded the year with at least 20 wins for the 13th consecutive season.
Blasczyk took a no-hitter into the fourth inning before allowing consecutive two-out singles to Paige Giese and Lauren Torborg. Blasczyk thwarted the Titans' first scoring opportunity by getting a fly ball to end the inning.
UW-Eau Claire stranded eight base runners through the first four innings, including three in the first two frames against UW-Oshkosh starting pitcher Sara Brunlieb.
The Blugolds loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first inning, but Brunlieb recorded a strikeout and a groundout to end the threat. Brunlieb then escaped a bases-loaded, two-out jam in the second frame by inducing a fly out.
UW-Oshkosh's Kaitlyn Krol drew a walk to lead off the fifth inning and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Brianna Witter, but Blasczyk notched a strikeout and a fly out to keep the game scoreless.
With one out in the top of the sixth inning, Brunlieb walked Emma Lehman and yielded a bunt single to Bri Calder that fell just beyond the reach of a diving Krol at first base. After Emily Pomykalski pinch ran for Lehman and Allison Schultz entered to run for Calder, a passed ball moved the runners to second and third base.
Meredith then bunted to Brunlieb in front of the pitcher's circle, and Pomykalski slid home safely ahead of Brunlieb's throw and catcher Abby Menting's tag.
Haley Bayreuther singled to lead off the UW-Oshkosh sixth inning and went to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Menting, but Blasczyk recorded a strikeout and a groundout to stymie the rally.
Krol singled with one out in the seventh inning. However, Witter popped out to Blasczyk, who fired to first base to nab pinch runner Clare Robbe for a double play that ended the game.
Blasczyk registered her third shutout of the year by striking out two batters and walking one.
Calder, Abby Hanson and Evie Schaller each collected two of the Blugolds' 10 hits.
Brunlieb (13-7) suffered the complete-game loss, allowing an unearned run with four strikeouts and two walks in seven innings pitched.
Saturday's loss mared the end of the careers for UW-Oshkosh seniors Bayreuther, Hayden Krueger, Taylor Loew and Lindsey Luedke.
Bayreuther and Krueger both started each of the Titans' 151 games over the past four seasons while Luedke appeared in 98 contests and Loew 87. The quartet helped UW-Oshkosh to a four-year record of 104-47, including a 44-16 mark in WIAC regular-season contests.
Bayreuther's career totals included a .303 batting average, 130 hits, 132 runs, 14 doubles, 11 triples, 13 home runs, 60 RBIs, a school-record 48 stolen bases and a .417 on-base percentage.
Krueger capped her career with a .351 batting average, 166 hits, 119 runs, 30 doubles, 24 home runs, 117 RBIs and 25 stolen bases.
Luedke concluded her career with a .335 batting average with 15 doubles, 16 home runs, 43 runs, 51 RBIs and a .621 slugging percentage.
Loew connected for seven doubles in her career while driving in 20 runs and scoring 10 runs.