Titan Bats Come Alive Against Saints, Ospreys

Julia Burns (Jr. • Verona) and Tess Fadness (Fr. • Eau Claire) each recorded four base hits to lead UW-Oshkosh during victories over the St. Lawrence University (N.Y.) and Richard Stockton College (N.J.) women's softball teams on Friday (March 18) in Fort Myers, Fla.

The Titans (5-1) piled up 17 hits, including three apiece by Burns, Fadness and Jamie Braden (Sr. • Lake Villa, Ill.), to top the Ospreys in the nightcap, 12-5. Earlier in the day, UW-Oshkosh took a first-inning lead and held on for a 4-2 win vs. the Saints (5-7).

Fadness laced a run-scoring single to put her squad up against St. Lawrence University. During their second trip to the plate, the Titans capitalized on a hit batsman and a fielding error to tally twice more. Braden grounded out to put UW-Oshkosh in front, 3-0.

The Saints' lone production came during the fourth inning, as Rachel Duffany and Leslie Stratton each smacked a double to drive in one run. A sacrifice fly by Kaelyn Hogan (So. • Greendale) in the bottom of the frame accounted for UW-Oshkosh's final score.

Duffany took the pitching loss after allowing one earned run over six innings. The Titans' starter was Tatum Schultz (So. • Oshkosh), who surrendered two ER in 3.2 frames. Elizabeth Greatens (Fr. • Green Bay) followed with 2.1 shutout innings for the win, while Courtney Wautier (So. • Brussels) gained a save for retiring three batters.

UW-Oshkosh marked seven times in the opening three innings to erase any doubt against Richard Stockton College (5-5). In the first frame, Hayley Freimuth (Jr. • Combined Locks) posted a two-run double and Fadness added an RBI double of her own. The Ospreys cut their deficit to 4-2 during their turn when Joey Afflitto pounded a two-run homer.

Scoring continued in the second, as run-scoring hits from Katelyn Derewecki and Jamie Gasko pulled their team within 5-4. The Titans responded with a Sydnee Wyss (Sr. • Monroe) single in the third inning to obtain a 7-4 cushion.

A pair of seventh-inning doubles put the exclamation point on UW-Oshkosh's win. Burns' hit brought home two after Hogan ripped a two-bagger to centerfield.

Wautier earned the victory for throwing all seven frames and striking out five. The loss fell on Brittany Giacomelli, who was charged with four ER on seven hits in two innings. Bianca DiDolce pitched the next 4.2 innings and yielded two ER.

The Titans will be back in action on Saturday (March 19) for games against Hamilton College (N.Y.) and St. Joseph's College (Maine) in Fort Myers, Fla.