Titans Open Season With Sweep Of Sabres
Ana Iliopoulos hit a go-ahead three-run double in the opener, Madelyn Fink pitched a one-hitter during the nightcap and the UW-Oshkosh softball team swept a doubleheader against Marian University to begin the 2020 campaign Friday (Feb. 21) at the UW-Oshkosh Rec Plex.
UW-Oshkosh (2-0) came from behind to slip past Marian University, 10-9, in the first game before routing the Sabres, 10-1 in five innings, during the second contest. The Titans hit a combined .392 in the two games, collecting 20 hits and scoring multiple runs during six of their 10 offnsive innings on the day.
The Titans, who have won 13 consecutive games against Marian University, hosted the first intercollegiate competition to be held in the UW-Oshkosh Rec Plex.
Iliopoulos finished the day 5-for-7 at the plate with a pair of doubles and seven runs batted in, including three hits and five RBIs in her first game as a Titan.
Gabby Buikema had two hits and scored twice in both games for the Titans, who also received four total hits and four runs scored from Acacia Tupa.
Fink earned a save in the season opener and limited the Sabres to an unearned run while striking out seven during her first start as a Titan in the nightcap.
In the opener UW-Oshkosh jumped out to a 5-1 lead after one inning, but Marian University answered with six runs on four hits in the top of the second frame to claim a 7-6 lead. The Titan then knotted the score at 7 with a pair of runs in the home half of the third inning. However, the Sabres scored in the fourth inning for an 8-7 advantage that they maintained until Iliopoulos' three-run double with two outs in the sixth inning.
Marian University (0-2) pulled within 10-9 in the top of the seventh inning and had the potential tying run at second base with two outs, but Fink thwarted the rally by striking out the final batter swinging.
The Sabres took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Gianna Esposito scored on a passed ball with two outs. The Titans' home half of the first frame featured five hits, including a two-run single from Iliopoulos and run-scoring singles by Buikema and Chloe Lambie. Amanda McIlhany also drew a bases-loaded walk to plate UW-Oshkosh's second run.
Marian University's six-run second frame was highlighted by one-out RBI singles from Alexa Rodriguez, Peyton Loesch and Katy Croeker against UW-Oshkosh starting pitcher Claire Petrus, who was charged with seven runs (five earned) in 1.1 innings. Sidney Budzinski, who relieved Petrus with the bases loaded and one out in the second inning, limited the Sabres to just two more runs during the frame via a groundout and two-out fielding error.
UW-Oshkosh knotted the score at 7 in the third inning as Iliopoulos came in to score on an error, and Hannah Ritter drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs. After Taylor Lauscher's run-scoring single provided Marian University an 8-7 lead in the top of the fourth inning, both teams exchanged scoreless fifth frame.
Budzinski sparked UW-Oshkosh's decisive sixth inning with a one-out single and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by pinch-hitter Emily Cliver. Buikema followed with a single and McIlhany walked to load the bases for Iliopoulos, who curled a line drive just inside third base that rolled in foul territory down the left field line and allowed Buikema, McIlhany and pinch-runner Kailee Garstecki to score the eventual winning runs.
Fink, making her first appearance as a Titan, entered the UW-Oshkosh pitcher's circle to begin the seventh inning. A pair of singles put the tying runs on base with two outs. Loesch hit another single to plate one run, but Fink preserved the victory by striking out Croeker to end the game as Marian University finished the contest with 11 runners left on base.
Budzinski picked up her first win as a Titan, allowing one run on two hits and five walks with a career-high five strikeouts across a career-best 4.2 innings pitched.
Esposito went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and one RBI for the Sabres while Loesch and Rodriguez both added two hits.
Marian University's Paige Rauhut was charged with the complete-game loss, yielding 10 runs (eight earned) on nine hits and five walks with two strikeouts in six innings.
During the nightcap the Titans exploded for five runs in the first inning, three runs during the second and two more in the third in support of Fink, who was a second-inning single away from tossing the 11th no-hitter in program history.
Fink, who walked two, lost her shutout bid after a pair of errors on the same play allowed Stephanie Keefe to score during the top of the third inning.
UW-Oshkosh sent nine batters to the plate during the first frame that featured six hits, including a two-run triple from Ritter, an RBI double by Petrus and a run-scoring single from Lambie.
Petrus, who ended the nightcap 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two runs batted in, added another RBI double in the second inning. Iliopoulos also plated a run in the second on a groundout before Petrus came around to score on a Marian University infield throwing error for an 8-0 cushion.
Iliopoulos drove in two more runs on a double in the home half of the third inning, and Fink set down the final seven batters she faced as UW-Oshkosh ended the contest after five frames via the eight-run rule.
Tupa went 3-for-3 and scored three runs in the nightcap while Buikema, Iliopoulos and Petrus each chipped in two hits.
Izzy Gonzalez recorded Marian University's lone hit.
Sabres starting pitcher Emalee Depa suffered the loss, surrendering eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits in 1.1 innings.
UW-Oshkosh returns to action March 6 against Lake Forest College (Ill.) and Buena Vista University (Iowa) in Rosemont, Ill.