Titans Open NCAA Postseason With Shutout Victory

Sara Brunlieb pitched a four-hit shutout to lead UW-Oshkosh to a 2-0 victory over Benedictine University (Ill.) in the opening game of the NCAA Division III Softball La Crosse Regional on Friday (May 12).

Second-seeded UW-Oshkosh (31-11) advances to play top seed UW-La Crosse at 11 a.m. Saturday (May 13) in the winner's bracket final at the four-team, double-elimination regional. UW-La Crosse (29-14) concluded Friday's La Crosse Regional action with a 2-1 win over St. Norbert College (21-15).

Brunlieb allowed a double and a walk to open the game before retiring the next 12 Benedictine University batters on the way to tossing her third shutout of the season and the 12th of her career.

Benedictine University (33-12), making its sixth NCAA postseason appearance in the last seven years, suffered its first shutout loss of the season.

The Titans backed Brunlieb's pitching gem with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning.

Natalie Dudek sparked the rally by reaching first base on a fielding error by Eagles second baseman Breanna Sobotka. Abby Menting followed with a double to right field ahead of Kaitlyn Krol, who drove home Dudek with the eventual game-winning run on a single to center field.

The Titans capped the home half of the first frame with a two-out infield single by Claire Petrus that plated Menting.

UW-Oshkosh, which entered the national tournament ranked sixth in the country with a .976 fielding percentage, turned in several defensive highlights in support of Brunlieb's pitching performance, including running catches by outfielders Caitlin Hoerning and Brianna Witter.

The Titans recorded their first out of the game as right fielder Natalie Dillon caught the ball after a popup bounced out of second baseman Amanda McIlhany's glove. Brunlieb went on to induce a groundout and a flyout to strand Eagles baserunners at second and third bases.

Brunlieb set down Benedictine University in order during the second, third and fourth innings, including seven outs on the infield.

Benedictine University had runners aboard in each of the last three innings, but the Eagles left two on base in the sixth frame and one in both the fifth and seventh innings.

Brunlieb pitched around an error to Benedictine University's leadoff batter in the fifth inning before allowing a pair of singles in the sixth frame. Kassee Johnson led off the top of the sixth inning with a single, and Courtney Grasz notched a one-out-single to put runners at first and second bases. However, Brunlieb got a flyout and a groundout to preserve the shutout.

Sobotka singled off Brunlieb with two outs in the seventh inning, but Dudek, the Titans shortstop, fielded a ground ball and fired to Krol at first base in time to conclude the game.

Benedictine University starting pitcher Holly Haberkorn (22-5) suffered the complete-game loss. She allowed six hits and collected three strikeouts without issuing a walk. Haberkorn entered the weekend ranked second among active Division III pitchers with 72 career wins (72-23 record).

The third-seeded Eagles will play fourth-seeded St. Norbert College in an elimination contest at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

With the win, UW-Oshkosh avenged a 4-2 loss to Benedictine University on March 18 in Clermont, Fla. Brunlieb, who pitched three hitless innings of relief in the Titans' setback to the Eagles, has held Benedictine University scoreless on four hits across 10 innings this season.

UW-Oshkosh, back in the Division III Championship for the seventh time and first since 2008, now sports an 11-13 record in the national tournament.

UW-La Crosse owns a four-game winning streak against UW-Oshkosh, including three victories this season.

NCAA Division III Softball Championship - La Crosse Regional Website

Postgame Interview - UW-Oshkosh head coach Scott Beyer

Postgame Interview - Senior pitcher Sara Brunlieb & sophomore first baseman Kaitlyn Krol