Titans Suffer Two Heartbreaking Defeats

UW-Oshkosh dropped one-run softball games to North Central College (Ill.) and the University of New England (Maine) on Monday (March 18) in Cape Coral, Fla.

North Central (5-0) scored in the top of the seventh inning to defeat the Titans, 3-2. In UW-Oshkosh's second contest of the day, New England (3-3) erased a three-run deficit in the final frame to prevail, 4-3.

The Cardinals took a 2-0 lead in the opener on Kiersten Tinkoff's single. The Titans then tied the score in the third using a throwing error and Katie Koepsel's (So. • Oak Creek) base knock to right field.

During the sixth inning, North Central put runners on second and third base with nobody out. Courtney Wautier (Sr. • Brussels) prevented any damage by getting a strikeout and a fielder's choice out at home.

Kayla Antle doubled with two outs in the seventh inning. Vlasta Mangia then singled to take a 3-2 lead. UW-Oshkosh had the tying run at second base in the bottom half of the frame, but RF Jordan Johnson made a sliding catch to end the game.

Mangia also earned the pitching win with two unearned runs in seven frames. She struck out five, while Wautier (loss) fanned nine batters and surrendered three ER.

UW-Oshkosh was in control for the majority of its contest with the Nor'easters. Haley Bayreuther (Fr. • Janesville) got the scoring started with a sacrifice fly in the third inning. Koepsel was up next and delivered a RBI single that made it 2-0.

Tess Fadness (Jr. • Eau Claire) led off the fourth inning with a long opposite-field home run to right field.

Down 3-0, New England opened the seventh with a walk. Back-to-back then errors loaded the bases. Jessica Potter ripped a run-scoring single and Abby Lambert followed with a pinch-hit, two-run double to tie the score. A slow groundout from Casey Brigham plated Potter to win the game.

Jill Vondrak (Jr. • Westchester, Ill.) took the loss after allowing two hits. Melissa Gutsmiedl (Fr. • Winneconne) was outstanding for six innings, allowing just one hit, in a no-decision. At one point, Gutsmiedl forced 12 straight groundball outs.

The win went Lauren Doneski, who pitched all seven frames and yielded three ER.

UW-Oshkosh has a day off before facing SUNY-Brockport and Knox College (Ill.) on Wednesday (March 20).

By Jon Feyen