Titans Rally Back To Gain Split Results
The nationally ranked UW-Oshkosh softball team erased a 6-0 deficit with a nine-run inning in the second contest of the day as the Titans split two games Thursday (March 22) in Clermont, Fla.
UW-Oshkosh (12-5), ranked 25th in the NCAA Division III by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, suffered a 10-2 setback in six innings to Benedictine University (Ill.) during the morning game before securing a 13-8 comeback victory over Farmingdale State College (N.Y.) in the afternoon.
The Titans fell behind Benedictine University, 9-0, in the third inning and faced a 6-0 deficit after two frames against Farmingdale State College until erupting for nine runs in the top of the third.
In the win over Farmingdale State College, the Titans collected four hits and capitalized on four Rams errors during the nine-run outburst in the third inning. UW-Oshkosh scored eight of its nine runs after two outs in the frame.
Katie Fontanetta led off UW-Oshkosh's third inning with a single and came around to score on a passed ball with one out to trim the Rams' advantage to 6-1. Brianna Witter, who stepped to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded, laced a bases-clearing triple down the right-field line before scoring on an error to make the score 6-5.
The Titans loaded the bases once again following two walks, and Kaitlyn Krol gave UW-Oshkosh the lead for good with a ringing single past the Rams' second baseman and into right field that plated two. Acacia Tupa then tripled to right field to score Fontanetta and Krol for a 9-6 UW-Oshkosh advantage.
Farmingdale State College (0-9) pulled within 9-8 in the home half of the third inning on an RBI bunt single from Jaxie Collard and a run-scoring groundout off the bat of Jessica Lombardo.
UW-Oshkosh added two insurance runs in the fifth inning as Abby Menting was hit by a pitch with the bases load, and Amanda McIlhany delivered a two-out RBI single.
The Titans then capped the scoring with a pair of runs in the seventh frame behind back-to-back RBI doubles by Natalie Dudek and pinch-hitter Rachel Ashauer.
Farmingdale State College built its 6-0 lead with one run in the home half of the first inning and five more runs in the second frame. Lombardo hit a run-scoring single in the first inning while four UW-Oshkosh errors contributed to the Rams' five-run second-frame. Farmingdale State College stranded four baserunners over the first two innings, including the bases loaded in the second frame.
Each of the game's first 15 runs were unearned as UW-Oshkosh committed six errors and Farmingdale State College four. Both teams recorded 13 hits and combined to strand 16 runners on base, including nine by the Titans.
Titans starting pitcher Claire Petrus (8-2) picked up the win, yielding eight runs (two earned) on 10 hits in four innings pitched.
UW-Oshkosh's Bailey Smaney earned her second save of the year with three scoreless innings of relief. She allowed three hits and struck out three while facing the minimum nine batters thanks to a double caught stealing in the sixth inning and an outfield assist after a Rams batter tried stretching a single into a double in the seventh.
Kayla Nunez went 3-for-4 for the Rams, who also received two hits each from Sierra Cardenales, Collard and Lombardo.
Farmingdale State College starting pitcher Alexa Luna (0-1) was charged with the loss after surrendering eight runs (zero earned) on three hits and three walks in 2.2 innings during her first start of the year.
During the loss to Benedictine University, the Eagles exploded for five runs on five hits in the first inning before extending their lead to 8-0 in the second frame and 9-0 in the third.
Benedictine University (3-5) had 10 of its 12 hits over the first three innings, including two-run triples from Jenna Boyajian and Angie Malsack during the first frame.
McIlhany hit a two-run single to pull UW-Oshkosh within 9-2 in the bottom of the third inning, but the Eagles capped the scoring with an unearned run in the sixth to invoke the eight-run rule.
Eagles starting pitcher Becky Karlinski (2-3) went the distance, scattering seven hits and issuing two walks. Karlinski retired nine of the last 10 batters she faced on the way to her fourth complete game of the season.
Boyajian, Malsack, Emily Moore and Kaitlyn Velzquez each registered two hits for Benedictine University.
Menting and McIlhany both had two of the Titans' seven hits.
Petrus took the loss, giving up eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits and two walks in 1.1 innings pitched.
UW-Oshkosh concludes its trip to the Sunshine State on Friday (March 23) against Hope College (Mich.) and University of Chicago (Ill.) in Clermont.
Photo by Paul Fionda