Titans Squash Yellowjackets On Second Try

UW-Oshkosh scored 14 runs in a four-inning span to capture one game of a doubleheader with UW-Superior on Monday (April 11) at YP.com Softball Park.

Jamie Braden (Sr. • Lake Villa, Ill.) totaled three hits and three runs batted in to help UW-Oshkosh record an 11-2 victory in the nightcap. The Yellowjackets (16-10/3-5 WIAC) barely held on for a 4-3 triumph in the first contest.

For the fifth consecutive doubleheader, UW-Oshkosh (15-7/2-2 WIAC) lost the opener. The Yellowjackets led the entire contest after Taylor VanDamme notched a run-scoring single in the first frame. She added another run-scoring hit during the fourth, while UW-Superior took a 3-0 advantage on Ashlee Olson's third-inning single.

The Titans got something going after they were down to their final out in the seventh inning. Four consecutive singles, including run-scoring hits from Braden and Kaelyn Hogan (So. • Greendale), cut the deficit in half. UW-Oshkosh scored its third run on an error before fouling out to end the game.

VanDamme, Olson and Kalli Kucharyski posted three hits apiece as the Yellowjackets took that category, 12-8. Braden had three hits and Sydnee Wyss (Sr. • Monroe) two for UW-Oshkosh.

The winning pitcher was Amanda LeBard, who got her 10th victory of the year after allowing two earned runs in seven frames. Courtney Wautier (So. • Brussels) took the loss, surrendering three earned runs in three innings before Elizabeth Greatens (Fr. • Green Bay) yielded one earned run over three innings.

Wyss didn't get a hit in the second contest, but she walked three times and scored twice. Her free pass to start the game set up Braden's two-run homer to centerfield. The Titans then went ahead, 3-0, on a solo blast from Tess Fadness (Fr. • Eau Claire).

A pair of singles began UW-Oshkosh's monstrous third frame. Three Titans touched home thanks to errors, while Julia Burns (Jr. • Verona) stole home with one out. Hogan delivered the big blow with a two-run single, while Braden and Burns each tacked on a run-scoring single.

UW-Superior got single runs in the third and fourth innings. Emily Eisenmann knocked in the first score with a single, as Ashley Martin's two-bagger cut the final difference to 11-2.

The Titans benefitted from five UW-Superior errors in the nightcap. UW-Oshkosh totaled nine hits, including two by Hogan. Lindsay Garay went 3-for-3 at the plate to highlight the Yellowjackets' eight-hit total.

Tatum Schultz (So. • Oshkosh) picked up the complete-game win, going five innings and allowing just one earned run. The loss fell on Kucharyski, who was charged with four earned runs in the opening 2.2 frames.

UW-Oshkosh has a two-game duel with nationally ranked UW-Whitewater on Wednesday (April 13) at YP.com Softball Park.