Titans Conclude Southern Swing With 6-4 Record
UW-Oshkosh rallied with two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 6-5 softball win over Concordia University (Mich.) on Friday (March 28) in Clermont, Fla.
In the second contest of the day, the University of Chicago (Ill.) improved to 10-0 with a 5-4 comeback victory over the Titans (10-4).
Concordia (16-10) grabbed a quick 1-0 lead with an RBI single from Cheyenne Brierley in the first inning. The Cardinals increased that margin to 3-0 when Valerie Carrillo singled home another run during the fifth.
Trailing by two, UW-Oshkosh opened the seventh inning with walks from Taylor Loew and Haley Bayreuther. Katie Koepsel then stepped up with two outs, and on a 1-2 pitch, she ripped a double over the leftfielder's head that tied the score.
During the eighth inning, the Cardinals went ahead on Lindsey Pyle's single. The Titans responded and made it 4-4 on a Concordia fielding error.
The top of the ninth featured a run-scoring groundout by Amy Tronfi. Hayden Krueger then caught a fly ball and threw out the runner at home for a huge double play.
UW-Oshkosh tied the game, 5-5, after consecutive fielding errors by the Cardinals. With the bases loaded and one out, Tess Fadness hit a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Maggie Balke and gave the Titans a walk-off win.
Jill Vondrak earned the victory after getting the final three outs. Sara Brunlieb went the first eight frames, allowing two earned runs with four strikeouts.
Kortney Loar tossed the opening 6.1 innings for Concordia, surrendering two ER with seven walks. Elaine Gerou (loss) allowed three unearned runs in 2.1 frames.
During the nightcap, Krueger gave the Titans an early 1-0 cushion with her RBI single. The Maroons rallied to take a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning after Kaitlyn Carpenter's run-scoring single and Maggie O'Hara's sacrifice fly.
The Titans had another comeback in them, scoring twice in the fifth. Kassie Krueger started it with a double down the third-base line. Minutes later, Lindsey Luedke smashed a two-run double into the gap that put UW-Oshkosh on top. Hayden Krueger followed with a RBI single to make it 4-2.
Chicago's decisive sixth inning opened with back-to-back doubles from Carpenter and Maddie McManus. Zoe Oliver-Grey eventually plated the winning run on an infield single.
The defeat went to Vondrak, who allowed five ER in a complete game. Jordan Poole got the win, striking out eight with three ER in seven frames.
UW-Oshkosh opens conference play against UW-Stevens Point on Wednesday (April 2).
By Jon Feyen