Titans Sweep Another Set Of Opponents
Sara Brunlieb pitched a two-hit shutout in the opener, and Clare Robbe and Claire Petrus combined to allow just one run during the nightcap as the UW-Oshkosh softball team won a pair of games on Tuesday (March 21) in Clermont, Fla.
UW-Oshkosh (11-3) extended its winning streak to four games by defeating Fontbonne University (Mo.), 11-0 in five innings, before ousting Buena Vista University (Iowa), 5-1.
In the victory over Fontbonne University (2-5), Brunlieb yielded one-out singles in the first and fifth innings while matching her season high with eight strikeouts en route to her first shutout of the season and 10th of her career.
Brunlieb (3-2), who recorded five of her first six outs via strikeouts, did not allow a runner past second base, while the UW-Oshkosh offense scored eight runs during the fourth inning and single runs in the first, third and fifth frames.
The Titans pounded out 12 hits off two Fontbonne University pitchers on the way to beating the Griffins for the first time.
Petrus had two hits and drove home a pair of runs while Erika Berry collected two hits, including a triple, and scored twice.
Natalie Dudek, Caitlin Hoerning and Lauren Torborg each added two hits for the Titans, who scored eight unearned runs due to six errors by the Griffins. UW-Oshkosh's Emma Fionda and Kaitlyn Krol also scored two runs apiece.
Fionda walked to lead off the game and came around to score on a throwing error. A two-out single by Petrus scored Krol to give the Titans a 2-0 lead in the third inning.
After Brunlieb retired her seventh consecutive batter to cap the bottom of the third inning, UW-Oshkosh erupted for eight runs in the fourth frame on six hits and four Fontbonne University errors as 13 Titans batted in the inning.
Dudek sparked the Titans' fourth-inning onslaught with a leadoff single before registering a run-scoring infield hit later in the frame, which also featured RBIs from Fionda, Hoerning, Petrus, Torborg and Abby Menting.
Brunlieb ran her streak to 11 straight batters retired until surrendering a single to pinch-hitter Isabel Hotop in the fifth inning. Brunlieb struck out Emily McNiff to conclude the frame and invoke the eight-run rule.
In the two prior meetings between the teams, Fontbonne University slipped past UW-Oshkosh by scores of 6-5 last season and 1-0 in 2004.
Fontbonne University starting pitcher Diamond Thomas was charged with the loss, allowing nine runs (two earned) in 3.1 innings. Thomas (0-3) surrendered six hits and walked five while striking out two.
Brianna Durant pitched the last 1.2 innings for the Griffins, yielding two runs (one earned) on six hits.
In the triumph over Buena Vista University (7-3), Robbe earned the win in the pitcher's circle after holding the Beavers to one run over four innings before Petrus tossed three shutout frames to pick up her second save of the year.
UW-Oshkosh struck for one run in the bottom of the first inning and two runs in both the fourth and fifth frames.
Dudek and Menting had a pair of hits and one RBI apiece to pace the Titans. Both of Menting's hits went for doubles.
Robbe (4-1), who took a no-hitter into the fourth inning, ceded just two hits and one walk with three strikeouts. Petrus, who has not allowed a run during her 17.1 innings pitched this season, gave up three hits with one walk and one strikeout against the Beavers.
Fionda led off the home half of the first inning with a single. She advanced to second base on a bunt by Berry and came around to score on a two-out outfield error.
Robbe, who recorded each of her 12 outs in the infield, pitched around a one-out walk in the second inning and gave up her first hit to Marissa Schmidt with one out in the fourth inning to place Beavers at first and third bases. Autumn Boland followed with a run-scoring single that tied the score at 1, but Robbe registered a strikeout and induced a popup to escape the inning.
Menting doubled to lead off the Titans' fourth inning before exiting for pinch-runner Natalie Dillon. Petrus sacrificed Dillon to third base ahead of Torborg's bunt that plated Dillon with the go-ahead run. Dudek then followed with a single that scored Torborg for a 3-1 UW-Oshkosh advantage.
UW-Oshkosh's Amanda McIlhany was hit by the first pitch of the fifth inning. Following two quick outs, McIlhany stole second base and crossed the plate on a double by Krol, who then came in to score on Menting's subsequent double.
Petrus set down all three Beavers she faced in the fifth inning before allowing a single to Cheyanne Boyland to open the sixth. A one-out walk to Schmidt put the potential tying run on base, but Petrus got a flyout and a strikeout to end the inning.
Buena Vista University recorded back-to-back singles off Petrus with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Petrus retired Cheyanne Boland on a ground out to end the contest.
Five different Beavers collected one hit apiece.
Buena Vista University starting pitcher Keely Bycroft (3-2) suffered the complete-game loss after allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits in six innings. She struck out one batter without issuing a walk.
UW-Oshkosh has won the last two meetings with Buena Vista University after the Beavers claimed each of the first three matchups between the teams.
The Titans remain in Clermont to play St. Catherine University (Minn.) and The College of Wooster (Ohio) on Wednesday (March 22). St. Catherine University is ranked 15th in the NCAA Division III by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
Photo by Paul Fionda