Titans Keep Red Hawks Off The Scoreboard

Sara Brunlieb and Jill Vondrak each threw a shutout during UW-Oshkosh's softball victories over host Ripon College on Sunday (April 6).

The Titans (16-4) won the opener, 8-0, as Brunlieb allowed just three hits for her first career shutout. Vondrak then limited the Red Hawks to four hits during a 3-0 triumph in game two.

Neither team scored until the fourth inning of the first contest. After Katie Koepsel singled, she scored on a single by Lindsey Luedke. Luedke's hitting streak ended at 17 games, making it the second-longest in program history.

The fifth inning featured six runs on six hits, including two singles by Stephanie Miller. After Miller scored on a wild pitch, Koepsel blasted a two-run homer. Hayden Krueger followed with a two-run double down the line and Taylor Loew a run-scoring single to put the Titans up 7-0.

Koepsel's three-hit game also included a run-scoring double in the sixth inning.

Ripon's (5-13) pitching loss went to Ashley Parkhonen after she allowed six runs (one earned) over 4.2 innings.

During the nightcap, UW-Oshkosh took advantage of a third-inning error by Ripon College. Emily Mallek scored on the miscue before Koepsel drove home the second run with a groundout.

The Titans held a 2-0 lead when the Red Hawks posed a major threat in the fourth inning. Ripon College recorded a double, walk and single to load the bases. Vondrak was able to get a pop-up, foul out and groundout to keep the Red Hawk's scoreless.

Haley Bayreuther, who had three hits in the game, contributed a run-scoring single during the seventh inning.

Ripon College's four-hit total consisted of two apiece by Stephanie Cartwright and Jordan Hester. Ashley Gnacinski yielded three runs (one earned) in the complete-game pitching defeat.

UW-Oshkosh plays a doubleader at UW-Platteville on Wednesday (April 9).

By Jon Feyen