Blue Devils' Sixth-Inning Hit Ousts Titans From WIAC Championship
Kaitlyn Krol's second-inning home run was not enough as fifth-seeded UW-Stout slipped past third-seeded UW-Oshkosh, 2-1, in a WIAC Softball Championship elimination contest on Saturday (May 6) in Whitewater.
UW-Stout (18-23) snapped a six-game losing streak to the Titans with a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning.
UW-Oshkosh (30-11), which produced a 1-2 record at the five-team WIAC Championship, will learn Monday (May 8) during an online selection show whether it receives one of 19 at-large berths to the 62-team NCAA Division III Championship. The selection show begins at noon.
UW-Oshkosh starting pitcher Sara Brunlieb allowed just one hit through 6.1 innings before the Blue Devils collected three hits in the sixth frame, including the decisive double by UW-Stout pitcher Beth Wood.
Kim Jablonski started the UW-Stout rally with a one-out single. After Brunlieb retired the next batter for the second out, Kyncaide Diedrich hit a single that advanced Jablonski to third base. With runners at the corners, Wood then laced a double that scored both Jablonski and Diedrich.
UW-Oshkosh's Erika Berry singled off Wood to lead off the top of the seventh inning and went to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Amanda McIlhany. However, Wood got the next two Titan batters to fly out to end the game.
Krol hit a leadoff home run – her third of the year – to left-center field in the top of the second inning to account for UW-Oshkosh's lone run.
Brunlieb and Wood both allowed just four hits apiece in complete-game efforts. Berry led all players with two hits – both singles.
Wood (9-10) earned the victory after pitching around runners in scoring position during the third, fifth and seventh innings.
Brunlieb (12-5) suffered the loss despite facing four batters over the minimum and striking out four.
UW-Oshkosh left five runners on base while UW-Stout stranded just two.
The Titans threatened in the top of the third inning as Emma Fionda led off with a single and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Natalie Dudek, but Wood maintained the 1-0 deficit by getting two groundouts.
UW-Oshkosh had runners at second and third bases with two outs in the fifth inning following a pair of infield errors, but Wood escaped the jam by inducing a popup.
Brunlieb retired the first nine UW-Stout batters before surrendering a leadoff single to Rachel Thomas in the fourth inning. Brunlieb responded by setting down the next seven Blue Devils until the fateful sixth-inning rally.
UW-La Crosse went on to eliminate UW-Stout from the league tournament by a 9-2 score on Saturday.
Top-seeded UW-Whitewater (35-7) hosts second-seeded UW-La Crosse (28-12) for the WIAC title on Sunday (May 7). Sunday's winner receives the league's automatic berth to the Division III postseason.