Titans Open Season With Lopsided Wins
The UW-Oshkosh softball team notched a pair of lopsided, season-opening shutout victories behind a pitching staff that tossed one-hitters in both contests and an offense that produced 38 runs on Friday (Feb. 24) in Marquette, Mich.
UW-Oshkosh (2-0) defeated Northland College, 16-0, in the season opener before ousting Edgewood College by a 22-0 score. Both games were ended by the eight-run rule after five innings as the Titans finished three runs shy of tying the school record for scoring in consecutive games.
Clare Robbe pitched a complete-game one-hitter against Northland College (0-1), while Sara Brunlieb and Bailey Smaney combined to allow one hit to Edgewood College (0-2).
UW-Oshkosh collected five doubles among its 12 hits in the season opener before amassing 17 hits, including a program-record 10 doubles, against Edgewood College. The Titans' previous record was seven doubles in one game, while UW-Oshkosh's 22 runs against the Eagles were the third-most in program history.
The Titans, who did not commit an error in either contest, combined to score multiple runs in seven of their eight times at bat during the two games.
Erika Berry, UW-Oshkosh's leadoff hitter, went 5-for-5 with six runs batted in, one triple and an NCAA Division III record-tying four doubles in the victory over Edgewood College. Berry, who reached base in all eight of her plate appearances on the day, became the first WIAC player to hit four doubles in a game and the third Titan in program history to record five hits in one contest.
In the victory over Northland College, Robbe was pitching a perfect game with six strikeouts before allowing a single with two outs in the top of the fourth inning. Each of the 15 outs Robbe recorded were on the infield.
Robbe went on to retire the final four Lumberjills on the way to recording her second career one-hit shutout. She also allowed one hit over five innings against Ripon College in 2015.
The Titans backed Robbe's pitching gem with two runs in the first inning, six runs in both second and third frames, and two more in the fourth.
Lauren Torborg gave UW-Oshkosh a 2-0 lead with a two-out single in the first inning.
The Titans then sent 11 batters to the plate in the second inning and 10 more in the third. Abby Menting hit a two-run double to highlight the six-run second inning, while Paige Giese and Caitlin Hoerning both delivered two-run hits during the third frame.
Natalie Dillon capped the scoring with a two-run double in the fourth inning.
UW-Oshkosh's Jordan Manthei, Amanda McIlhany and Torborg each recorded two hits in the game, while Natalie Dudek was among six Titans to drive in two runs.
Erin Gilligan had the lone hit for Northland College.
Northland College starting pitcher Heidi Guenther suffered the loss after allowing 14 runs (nine earned) on 10 hits and five walks in three innings pitched.
In the win over Edgewood College, Brunlieb earned the win by allowing one hit and recording eight strikeouts in four innings pitched. Brunlieb lost her bid for a perfect game on a one-out, infield single by Sarah Elliott in the third inning.
Smaney pitched the final inning for the Titans, striking out two of the three batters she faced in her UW-Oshkosh debut.
After a scoreless first inning, UW-Oshkosh erupted for 13 runs on 11 hits and two Edgewood College errors during the second frame. Dudek was hit by a pitch to start a string of seven straight Titans reaching base, including consecutive run-scoring doubles from Berry, Claire Petrus and Menting that gave UW-Oshkosh a 6-0 lead.
With two outs in the second inning, UW-Oshkosh added six run-scoring hits in a row to build a 13-0 advantage. Hoerning started the rally with a single that was followed by a double from Dudek, singles from McIlhaney and Brianna Witter, and doubles from Berry and Petrus.
The Titans smashed six doubles during their 13-run outburst, including two apiece by Berry and Petrus.
UW-Oshkosh tacked on four runs in the third inning and scored five more in the fifth.
Berry hit a two-run double in the third inning and a two-run triple during the fourth. Manthei also drove home two runs with a two-out double in the fourth frame.
Berry concluded the contest with 11 total bases on four doubles and one triple.
Petrus went 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of doubles and four runs batted in, while Dudek and Witter scored three times. McIlhaney and Witter both contributed two hits for the Titans.
Edgewood College starting pitcher Grace Delleman suffered the loss, yielding 13 runs (five earned) on 12 hits and one walk in 1.2 innings pitched.
The UW-Oshkosh record for runs in consecutive games is 31, established in a doubleheader sweep over UW-Superior in 2008. The Titans set a school record for runs in a game during a 31-1 win over UW-Superior and followed it up with a 10-1 victory over the Yellowjackets on April 16, 2008.
UW-Oshkosh remains in Marquette for three games on Saturday (Feb. 25). The Titans open the day against UW-Superior before battling Lakeland University and Concordia University Wisconsin.
Photo by Paul Fionda