Titans Sweep Ninth-Ranked Blugolds
Abby Menting hit a decisive two-run homer in the opener, the Titans scored two runs in the 11th inning during the nightcap, and the UW-Oshkosh softball team won a pair of thrilling 2-1 decisions over nationally ranked UW-Eau Claire on Sunday (April 9) at the UW-Oshkosh Softball Park.
UW-Oshkosh (20-4, 4-0 WIAC), which swept a doubleheader over UW-Eau Claire for the first time since 2009, moves into a tie with UW-Whitewater (18-6, 4-0 WIAC) atop the league standings.
The Titans, who extended their season-best winning streak to eight games, are off to their best start since opening 1987 with a 21-3 record.
UW-Eau Claire (17-7, 2-4 WIAC), which has lost four straight games, entered the week ranked ninth in the NCAA Division III by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
In Sunday's opening contest, Menting's first-inning homer was enough as Sara Brunlieb held the Blugolds to four hits across 6.2 innings pitched before Claire Petrus recorded the final out with the bases loaded.
UW-Oshkosh's Erika Berry singled with one out in the bottom of the first inning and stole second base with two outs ahead of Menting, who launched a home run well beyond the left-field wall against UW-Eau Claire starting pitcher Lauren Blasczyk.
The home run was Menting's second of the season and the eighth of her career.
Brunlieb, who took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, walked two Blugolds in the top of the second frame before recording a strikeout to strand both runners.
UW-Oshkosh left the bases loaded in the home half of the third inning as Berry, Menting and Emma Fionda each drew walks. However, Blasczyk notched a strikeout to escape the jam.
UW-Eau Claire's Emma Lehman singled to right field to break up Brunlieb's no-hit bid with two outs in the fifth inning. Brunlieb then pitched around a one-out double by Emily Pomykalski during the sixth frame.
After UW-Oshkosh left two baserunners in the bottom of the sixth inning, Leah Wolff singled to lead off the Blugolds' seventh frame. Brunlieb retired the next two batters but hit Lehman with a pitch, and Sam Noetzelman delivered a double that trimmed the UW-Eau Claire deficit to 2-1.
Petrus relieved Brunlieb and walked the first batter she faced to load the bases with two outs for Pomykalski, who worked a full count before flying out to center field to end the game.
Brunlieb improved her record to 7-2 on the season while Petrus earned her fourth save. Brunlieb had six strikeouts and issued two walks.
The teams combined for just seven hits during the opener, including four by the Blugolds.
In Sunday's nightcap, UW-Eau Claire shortstop Evie Schaller broke a scoreless tie with a one-out solo home run to left field in the top of the 11th inning, but the Titans responded with a pair of unearned runs in the home half of the frame to walk off with the victory.
Natalie Dudek hit a leadoff double against Blasczyk to spark the UW-Oshkosh comeback. Amanda McIlhany's subsequent bunt popped out of Blugolds first baseman Bri Calder's glove as McIlhany reached first base and Dudek went to third.
An ensuing groundout advanced McIlhany to second base, and Emma Fionda loaded the bases with a one-out bunt single. Berry then hit a sharp grounder to Schaller, whose throw to the plate went to the backstop, allowing Dudek and McIlhany to score the tying and winning runs.
UW-Oshkosh left 12 runners on base and UW-Eau Claire stranded eight during the second game. The Blugolds also concluded the contest with a season-high five errors.
Dudek, Fionda and Kaitlyn Krol each collected two of the Titans' seven hits.
Clare Robbe (6-2) was credited with the win for UW-Oshkosh after recording the final two outs of the 11th inning.
Titans starting pitcher Bailey Smaney went the first six innings, yielding six hits and two walks while notching four strikeouts. She recorded each of her 18 outs on the infield.
Petrus pitched 4.1 innings before exiting following Schaller's home run, which snapped Petrus' nation-leading streak of 26.1 innings without allowing an earned run to begin the season.
Petrus now sports a team-best 0.27 earned run average while Smaney lowered hers to 0.88.
Smaney and Blugolds starting pitcher Sarah Peka were locked in a scoreless duel despite both hurlers facing baserunners during each of the first four innings. The Titans had a runner at third base with one out in the second inning while the Blugolds had runners in scoring position during the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, 10th and 11th frames.
The Blugolds' Brooke Varian doubled after Schaller's homer in the 11th inning, but Robbe relieved Petrus and induced a groundout and a popup to set the stage for the UW-Oshkosh comeback.
Schaller, Varian and Rachel Heffel each had two of UW-Eau Claire's nine hits.
Blasczyk (9-6) was the losing pitcher in both contests. She went the distance in the opener, surrendering three hits and four walks while striking out five. In the second contest, Blasczyk ceded a pair of unearned runs on four hits and one walk with four strikeouts in 4.2 innings of relief.
Peka pitched the first 5.2 innings for the Blugolds, limiting UW-Oshkosh to three hits. She stuck out two and walked two.
UW-Oshkosh heads to UW-La Crosse for a doubleheader on Friday (April 14).