Titans Gain Split With Win Over Saints

After being shut out by Simpson College (Iowa) in the opener, UW-Oshkosh battled back to defeat The College of St. Scholastica (Minn.) and earn a split of its two women's softball games played Sunday (Feb. 26) in Marquette, Mich.

Simpson College (3-2) scored three runs in both the fourth and sixth innings to defeat UW-Oshkosh, 6-0. The Titans (2-2) then jumped out to a 5-0 lead and held on to oust The College of St. Scholastica, 5-3.

In the first game, Simpson College pitcher Kacee Arey struck out 10 batters and allowed just a fourth-inning single to UW-Oshkosh's Tess Fadness (So. • Eau Claire).

Simpson College built a 3-0 lead on singles by Kylie Van Houten and Chelsea Winegard in the fourth inning. The Storm tallied three more runs in the sixth inning, including two on run-scoring doubles by Veronica Roshek and Hailey Jensen.

Simpson College compiled nine hits as Jensen and Roshek tallied two each. Carissa Coopman added a double in the second inning.

UW-Oshkosh had three pitchers see action, including starter Demi Kastein (So. • Waupun) who took the loss after yielding one run and two hits in three innings of work. She was replaced by Julie Sweeney (Fr. • Arlington Heights, Ill.) in the fourth inning and Elizabeth Greatens (So. • Green Bay) in the sixth.

Against The College of St. Scholastica (0-3), UW-Oshkosh steadily pulled away. The Titans took a 1-0 lead on Hayley Freimuth's (Sr. • Combined Locks) single in the second inning and increased their advantage to 3-0 with two unearned runs in the third.

UW-Oshkosh closed its scoring with two runs in the fourth inning. Freimuth led off the inning with a triple and pinch-runner Stephanie Miller (So. • Slinger) scored moments later courtesy of a passed ball. Following a ground out, pinch-hitter Kimberly Lohre (Fr. • Glenview, Ill.) put the Titans ahead 5-0 with a solo home run.

The Saints were held quiet until they scored three runs on an infield ground out by Jordan Spiering and singles by Emily Schiro and Barb Malyuk in the bottom of the seventh inning. The College of St. Scholastica had the bases loaded when UW-Oshkosh pitcher Courtney Wautier (Jr. • Brussels) struck out Allison Spiering to end the game.

UW-Oshkosh totaled seven hits, including two each by Freimuth, Lohre and Emily Mallek (Fr. • Plover). The College of St. Scholastica had six players register one hit each.

Wautier recorded the complete-game pitching victory after striking out 11 batters and allowing just one earned run. Darcy Roach took the complete-game loss for the Saints after striking out 10 batters and yielding three earned runs.

UW-Oshkosh is off until it plays New York schools St. Joseph's College and Hamilton College in games on March 18 in Cape Coral, Fla.