Titans Follow Extra-Inning Loss With Rout Of Lady Reds
The UW-Oshkosh softball team posted a season-high run total in the second game of the day after falling in extra innings in the opener on Thursday (March 26) in Clermont, Fla.
The Titans (8-6) defeated Carthage College, 13-5, in six innings following a 6-4 setback in eight innings to Middlebury College (Vt.).
UW-Oshkosh scored in five of the six innings against Carthage College as the Titans eclipsed their previous season high of 11 runs.
Hayden Krueger went 3-for-4 with three runs and one run batted in to lead the Titans past the Lady Reds.
Erika Berry, Elizabeth Fonk, Tanya Hammitt and Katie Koepsel all added two of UW-Oshkosh's 13 hits. Koepsel extended her hitting streak to 13 games. Fonk and Brianna Witter both established season highs with four and three runs batted in, respectively.
UW-Oshkosh answered Carthage College's run in the top of the first inning with three in the bottom half. Fonk drew a bases loaded walk to tie the game, and Koepsel and Berry both scored on a wild pitch for a 3-1 lead.
The Lady Reds responded with four runs on three hits in the second frame, but the Titans regained the lead for good with five runs on four hits in the second.
Haley Bayreuther laced a run-scoring triple to pull UW-Oshkosh within 5-4. After Berry was hit by a pitch, Koepsel and Krueger both brought home runs with singles, followed by a double by Witter that plated two more.
UW-Oshkosh added insurance runs in the third and fourth innings before ending the game early with three runs in the sixth frame on a run-scoring groundout by Witter and a two-run single by Fonk with one out.
Sara Brunlieb relieved Clare Robbe in the UW-Oshkosh pitcher's circle with two outs in the second inning and held the Lady Reds to one baserunner for the rest of the game. Brunlieb struck out three en route to picking up her fifth win of the season.
Makenzie Walker took the loss for Carthage College (2-7), allowing eight runs on five hits and four walks in 1.1 inning pitched. At the plate, Walker had two of the Lady Reds' five hits.
In the first game of the day, Middlebury College rallied to tie the game at 6 in the sixth inning, marked three runs in the eighth and fended off a late comeback attempt.
Middlebury College opened the scoring with a run on three hits and one error in the second inning. The Panthers began the inning with a single and a double, but Bayreuther gunned down a Panther at the plate and right fielder Caitlin Hoerning forced a runner at second base for the first two unconventional outs of the frame. Middlebury College plated a run on an outfield error, but Brunlieb induced a groundball with two runners aboard to escape further damage.
With two outs and the bases empty in the second inning, UW-Oshkosh got a single by Witter and Hoerning followed with a double to plate Witter with the tying run.
The Titans took a 2-1 lead in the third inning on a run-scoring groundout by Berry and increased their lead to 3-1 in the fifth when Koepsel crossed the plate on an error by the third baseman with two outs.
Middlebury College's Hye-Jin Kim reached on an infield error to begin the sixth inning and Kat Maehr followed with a two-run home run to knot the score at 3.
Robbe entered the circle for Brunlieb following the home run and worked around a baserunner in both the sixth and seventh innings.
After loading the bases with one out in the eighth inning, Middlebury College scored the go-ahead run on a groundout before Kelsey Marte plated two runs with a two-out single for a 6-3 advantage.
UW-Oshkosh cut its deficit to 6-4 on a Berry single in the bottom of the eighth inning, but the Titans stranded the potential tying runs on base.
Taylor Gardner went 3-for-3 with one run for Middlebury College (7-2). Maehr and Kelsey Martel both had two runs batted in for the Panthers.
Middlebury College relief pitcher Neve Stearns earned the win by allowing two runs (zero earned) in five innings. She allowed just three hits and struck out three.
Robbe took the loss for UW-Oshkosh after ceding three runs (two earned) in three innings pitched.
The Titans conclude their Florida trip by playing the University of Chicago (Ill.) and Thomas College (Maine) on Friday (March 27) in Clermont.