Titans Defeat 15th-Ranked Wildcats, Lose To Scots
Natalie Dudek capped a four-run, seventh-inning rally with a walk-off single against a nationally ranked opponent as the UW-Oshkosh softball team split two games on Wednesday (March 22) in Clermont, Fla.
Dudek's game winner provided a 5-4 victory over St. Catherine University (Minn.) in the first game of the day. The Wildcats entered the game ranked 15th in the NCAA Division III by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
The College of Wooster (Ohio) then snapped the Titans' five-game winning streak with a 4-3 decision on a bases-loaded single with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning.
In the first game of the day, St. Catherine University scored a pair of unearned runs in the top half of the seventh inning to take a 4-1 lead.
Wildcats relief pitcher Kailee Berquam then entered the contest for starter Krista Flugstad to begin the home half of the seventh inning. The Titans greeted Berquam with consecutive singles by Emma Fionda, Erika Berry and Kaitlyn Krol, trimming their deficit to 4-2.
Flugstad, who limited UW-Oshkosh to just four hits through the first six innings, reentered the pitcher's circle. UW-Oshkosh's Abby Menting reached on a bunt, and St. Catherine University catcher Sammie Galvez threw the ball into left field, allowing Berry to score and pull the Titans within 4-3.
UW-Oshkosh's Claire Petrus then advanced to first base on catcher's interference as her swing clipped Galvez's glove, loading the bases for Lauren Torborg, who lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to score pinch-runner Jordan Manthei with the tying run.
With Menting at third base and Petrus at first with one out, Dudek laced a single to center field to cap the comeback.
UW-Oshkosh (12-4) starting pitcher Sara Brunlieb and Flugstad were locked in a scoreless duel until Wildcats outfielder Amber Montero led off the top of the fourth inning with a single and went to second base on a one-out single by Galvez. Kylie Macziewski followed with a double to score Montero, but Brunlieb limited the damage by recording a strikeout and a groundout to strand a pair of runners in scoring position.
The Titans tied the score at 1 in the bottom of the fifth inning before eventually leaving the bases loaded. Brianna Witter led off with a single and went to second base following a sacrifice bunt by Amanda McIlhany.
Fionda then singled up the middle to move Witter to third base, but Witter was called out at home on a grounder off the bat of Berry. Krol walked to load the bases ahead of Menting, who was hit by a pitch, allowing Fionda to cross the plate with the tying run.
St. Catherine University reclaimed a 2-1 lead on a home run by Jenna George in the sixth inning and extended its advantage to 4-1 with two runs on two hits and one UW-Oshkosh error in the seventh against Petrus, who relieved Brunlieb to start the frame.
Anna Hinderaker singled with one out in the Wildcat seventh inning and advanced to second base as UW-Oshkosh missed the tag on Hinderaker following a ground ball. Hinderaker then stole third base and beat the throw home after a bunt by Montero.
With Wildcats at first and third bases with one out, Menting gunned down Montero trying to steal second base for the second out, but George singled to up the St. Catherine University lead to 4-1. Petrus then induced a groundout to escape the inning.
UW-Oshkosh had a chance to open the scoring in the third inning as Fionda walked with one out and reached second base on a bunt by Berry. Krol singled up the middle, but Montero's resulting throw from center field beat a sliding Fionda at the plate.
Fionda and Krol both collected a pair of hits to lead the Titans.
Petrus (3-0), who has not allowed an earned run 18.2 innings pitched this season, registered the win after allowing two unearned runs on two hits in the seventh frame.
Brunlieb tossed the first six innings for the Titans, surrendering two runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking one.
St. Catherine University (10-4) outhit UW-Oshkosh, 9-8, but the Wildcats committed three errors and issued three walks.
Hinderaker went 3-for-4 for the Wildcats, and George added two hits and a pair of RBIs.
Flugstad (8-2) was charged with the loss after yielding two runs on five hits in 6.1 innings spanning a pair of stints in the circle. She walked three and struck out four. Berquam failed to record an out and was charged with three runs.
During the setback to The College of Wooster, the Titans tied the score at 3 with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning, but the Scots got a one-out hit by Stephenie Little with the bases loaded during the home half of the seventh.
The Titans struck for one run in the first inning as Torborg launched a triple to right-center field that scored Berry, who reached via a single and stole second base.
The College of Wooster (6-8) answered with three runs on three hits in the bottom of the first inning as Linea Brouse provided a two-run single and later stole home on a double steal.
UW-Oshkosh starting pitcher Clare Robbe retired eight straight batters late in the contest before ceding consecutive infield singles to Taryn Kohlman and Maddy Chase to begin the seventh inning.
Petrus relieved Robbe and recorded the first out on a sacrifice bunt that advanced Kohlman and Chase into scoring position. Petrus walked Marina Roskie to load the bases for Little, who provided the game-winning hit.
The College of Wooster had a 10-8 advantage in hits, including two each from Chase, Kohlman, Little and Chelsea Copley.
Scots relief pitcher Jenna Kendall (3-4) was credited with the win after allowing just one hit in two scoreless innings. Chase, The College of Wooster starting pitcher, surrendered three runs on seven hits over the first five frames.
Fionda went 2-for-4 to lead the Titans.
Robbe (4-2) suffered the loss, yielding four runs (three earned) on nine hits in six-plus innings pitched. She registered four strikeouts without issuing a walk.
St. Catherine University won the previous meeting with UW-Oshkosh, 2-0, in 2007. The College of Wooster has prevailed in three of its five matchups with the Titans, including a 2-0 decision in 2005 and a 5-4 victory in 2011.
UW-Oshkosh concludes its trip to Florida with games against The College of Wooster and D'Youville College (N.Y.) on Thursday (March 22) in Clermont.
Photo by Paul Fionda