Titans Split To Open Florida Trip
The UW-Oshkosh softball split two games on Sunday (Match 22) to begin its 10-game spring trip in Clermont, Fla.
The Titans (4-4) defeated the University of Chicago (Ill.), 4-3, before falling, 6-3, to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In the first game of the day, UW-Oshkosh scored all four of its runs in the second inning and hung on as the University of Chicago stranded the potential tying and go-ahead runs on base in the top of the seventh inning.
Titan starting pitcher Clare Robbe allowed three runs (two earned) and scattered 10 hits to earn the win.
Haley Bayreuther, Hayden Krueger and Emily Mallek had two hits each for UW-Oshkosh, which stole three bases and rapped nine hits.
The University of Chicago took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, but UW-Oshkosh responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame on four hits and one error.
Elizabeth Fonk's single brought home the Titans' first run, and Mallek crossed the plate on an error by the Maroons' left fielder. With two outs, Krueger smashed a run-scoring triple and came around to score on a Katie Koepsel single for a 4-1 advantage.
The University of Chicago (1-2) cut its deficit to 4-3 in the third inning, but Robbe got a pop out and groundout to strand runners at second and third base and preserve the lead.
Robbe pitched around a leadoff double in the fourth inning and a leadoff single in the fifth before setting down the University of Chicago in order in the sixth.
The Maroons put runners on first and second base after two outs in the seventh inning, but Robbe induced a pop out to end the game.
The University of Chicago's Jordan Poole was charged with the loss after ceding four runs on nine hits in six innings pitched. She struck out seven and walked one.
Kathleen Kohm led the Maroon offense with three hits and one run in four at-bats.
In the second contest of the day, Amanda Lee went 3-for-3 with five runs batted in, including a grand slam in the third inning, to lead Massachusetts Institute of Technology to victory.
The Engineers (3-1) entered the contest having allowed one run in their first three games.
Koepsel connected on a two-run home run – her fourth homer of the season – to give the Titans a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Tori Jensen answered with a two-out, run-scoring double that cut the Titans' lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the first frame, and Lee's grand slam gave the Engineers a 5-2 lead they wouldn't relinquish.
UW-Oshkosh cut its deficit to 5-3 on a Krueger sacrifice fly in the fifth inning, but Lee added a run-scoring single in the sixth frame to provide the final score.
The Engineers' Alexandra Marshall got the win by tying her career high with 11 strikeouts and allowing three runs and six hits in seven innings pitched.
Natalie Shifflet went 3-for-3 with two runs and one walk for Massachusetts of Technology.
Koepsel paced the UW-Oshkosh offense with two hits.
Sara Brunlieb took the loss for the Titans after ceding six runs (four earned) in six innings pitched. She struck out five and walked two.
UW-Oshkosh continues its Florida trip by playing Elmhurst College (Ill.) and Hamilton College (N.Y.) on Monday (March 23) in Clermont.