Nationally Ranked Blugolds Sweep Titans With 24 Hits

UW-Eau Claire clinched the WIAC softball title with two victories at UW-Oshkosh on Tuesday (April 30). The Blugolds (25-6/13-3 WIAC) are ranked 23rd in the NCAA Division III by the NFCA.

This is the second straight league crown for UW-Eau Claire, which will host the WIAC Tournament from May 3-5. UW-Oshkosh currently sits third in the standings with its 9-5 record (22-10 overall).

Emily Wishau earned the complete-game win as the Blugolds took the opener, 6-2. UW-Eau Claire then took the second contest, 6-4, thanks to a 4-for-4 performance by Amanda Fischer.

In the first game, UW-Eau Claire took control with three runs in the first two innings. The Blugolds stole three bases and got RBI singles from Sarah Fern and Taylor Pierce in the opening frame.

UW-Eau Claire tacked on a run-scoring single by Jenny Hess in the fourth and a RBI double by Emily Haluska in the seventh.

UW-Oshkosh got on the board in the fifth, when Hayden Krueger (Fr. • Bristol) crushed a solo homer to left field. Jill Vondrak (Jr. • Westchester, Ill.) later bunted a run home during the sixth.

Courtney Wautier (Sr. • Brussels), who pitched the 500th inning of her career, took the loss with three earned runs on 10 hits and three walks.

Vondrak tossed four shutout innings to start the nightcap. The Titans provided her with a 1-0 lead in the first on a double by Tess Fadness (Jr. • Eau Claire).

The game changed in the fifth inning, as UW-Eau Claire scored three runs on three hits and one unusual play. With a runner on second base, Abby Hansen laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt. The Titans tried to get the runner at third, but Hess avoided the rundown and scored while Hansen advanced all the way to third. Pierce followed with a RBI double that made it 3-1.

Fischer added to the margin with a two-run single in the sixth inning.

UW-Oshkosh received help from two errors as it tried to mount a seventh-inning comeback. Kaelyn Hogan (Sr. • Greendale) launched a two-run homer with two outs to pull within 6-4. The Titans then struck out to end the contest.

Vondrak (loss) was charged with six ER on 14 hits, while Zana Lorbetske allowed three unearned runs over six frames for the victory.

The Titans conclude the regular season at UW-Stevens Point on Wednesday (May 1).

By Jon Feyen