Titans Sweep Sabres In Home Debut
Sara Brunlieb earned her 50th career pitching win in the opener, Emma Fionda had a season-high three hits and two runs batted in during the nightcap, and the UW-Oshkosh softball team swept a home-opening doubleheader against Marian University on Wednesday (April 5) at the UW-Oshkosh Softball Park.
Four UW-Oshkosh pitchers combined to limit Marian University to just 11 hits during the doubleheader as the Titans won the first game, 5-1, and the second contest, 6-3.
UW-Oshkosh (16-4) collected 22 hits against the Sabres, including five by Erika Berry and four from both Fionda and Abby Menting.
UW-Oshkosh's Lauren Torborg hit her second home run of the season, a solo shot during the first contest, as Berry, Torborg and Kaitlyn Krol drove in at least one run during both games.
In the Titans' home opener, Brunlieb pitched four shutout innings to improve her career record to 50-18. Brunlieb, who sports a 5-2 record this season, is the third player in school history to reach 50 wins and the ninth active pitcher in the NCAA Division III to achieve the milestone. Ronessa Stampfli holds the UW-Oshkosh record with 75 pitching wins from 2005-08, while Nila Gruenewald won 55 games for the Titans from 1982-85.
Brunlieb allowed three hits and recorded three strikeouts without issuing a walk against the Sabres. She leads the WIAC with 7.14 strikeouts per seven innings this year.
Clare Robbe pitched the final three innings for the Titans, yielding one run on one hit to notch her first save of the season. Robbe, who did not walk a batter, has allowed a conference-best 0.4 walks per seven innings this year.
UW-Oshkosh jumped out to a 4-0 lead with single runs in the first and third innings and a pair of runs in the second.
The first four Titans reached base in the home half of the first inning as Fionda was hit by a pitch ahead of consecutive singles by Berry, Krol and Menting off Sabres starting pitcher Shannon Huray.
Krol's single scored Fionda with the game's first run, but Marian University left fielder Charlotte Pegram threw out Berry at the plate following a flyout, and an ensuing groundout ended the frame.
Berry, who went 3-for-3 at the plate during the opener, gave the Titans a 3-0 advantage by lacing a two-out, two-run double to right-center field in the second inning. UW-Oshkosh then extended its lead to four runs on a sacrifice fly by Natalie Dudek in the third frame.
After setting down the first six Sabres of the game, Brunlieb allowed a leadoff single and a two-out bunt hit in the third inning. However, Brunlieb recorded a strikeout to strand runners at first and third bases before pitching around a leadoff double in the fourth inning.
Marian University (14-6) avoided a shutout in the top of the sixth inning as Sara Terrian hit a two-out, run-scoring single before Torborg launched a home run to center field with one out in the bottom half of the sixth frame to cap the scoring.
Menting and Torborg both went 2-for-3 for the Titans, and Fionda scored twice as the Titans left just three runners on base. Torborg, who has not struck out this season, extended her WIAC-leading streak to 53 consecutive at-bats without a strikeout.
Huray (7-5) suffered the complete-game loss, surrendering 10 hits and registering two strikeouts. Torborg's homer off Huray was the first allowed by a Marian University pitcher this season.
In Wednesday's second contest, Bailey Smaney pitched six innings for the Titans before Claire Petrus picked up her team-leading third save of the year with a scoreless seventh frame.
Petrus extended her nation-leading streak to 19.2 innings without allowing an earned run this year while Smaney upped her season record to 3-0 after ceding three runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk.
UW-Oshkosh overcame a 2-0 deficit with two runs in the bottom of the third inning and four runs in the fifth.
The Titans left the bases loaded in the first inning, and Marian University opened the scoring with a pair of runs on two hits in the third.
Smaney allowed her first hit of the game to Courtney Makinen to start the third inning. Makinen advanced to third base on Smaney's subsequent throwing error on a bunt off the bat Tiffani Castillo and scored on a one-out single by Ally Fox. Castillo came in to score the Sabres' second run on the play after Menting, the Titans catcher, attempted to throw out Fox at second base following a play at the plate.
Fionda singled to lead off the UW-Oshkosh third inning and went to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Berry. Krol followed with a double to score Fionda, and Torborg delivered a one-out single that scored Krol with the tying run.
The Titans claimed the lead for good with three two-out hits in the fifth inning. Menting doubled to lead off the frame, and Dudek reached on an infield single with one out. Following a groundout, Amanda McIlhany singled home Dudek with the go-ahead run ahead of pinch-hitter Brianna Witter, who drew a walk to load the bases. Fionda then connected on a two-run single, and Berry followed with a hit to score Witter for a 6-2 UW-Oshkosh lead.
Marian University pulled within 6-3 on Nicole LaBeck's one-out, run-scoring single in the sixth inning, but Smaney stranded Sabres at first and second bases by getting a popup and a foul-out to thwart the threat.
The Sabres brought the potential tying run to the plate in the seventh inning on a two-out walk and a single, but Petrus struck out Terrian to conclude the game.
Berry, Krol and Menting each provided two of the Titans' 12 hits. Krol has reached base in 21 consecutive games dating to last season.
Fox paced Marian University with two hits.
Sabres starting pitcher Paige Rauhut (6-1) was charged with the loss after yielding six runs (five earned) on 12 hits in 5.1 innings pitched. She struck out three and walked three.
UW-Oshkosh owns a 28-4 record against Marian University, including victories in the last 10 meetings by a combined 61-15 score.
The Titans, who hit a pair of doubles in both games, entered Wednesday's action leading the nation with 2.5 doubles per contest.
UW-Oshkosh opens WIAC play by hosting UW-Platteville for a doubleheader on Saturday (April 8) at the UW-Oshkosh Softball Park.