Titans Sweep Pioneers, Move Into WIAC Lead
The UW-Oshkosh softball team pounded out 24 hits and never trailed on the way to sweeping UW-Platteville during a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader Tuesday (April 20) at the UW-Oshkosh Softball Park.
UW-Oshkosh (13-5, 5-1 WIAC) claimed sole possession of first in the league standings after downing UW-Platteville (9-11, 3-5) by scores of 3-2 in the opener and 8-4 during the nightcap. The Titans, hitting a WIAC-best .340 on the year, split a nonconference doubleheader at UW-Platteville on April 6.
Hannah Ritter paced the Titans, going a combined 6-for-8 at the plate while Kailee Garstecki and Ana Iliopoulos added four hits apiece on the day, and Natalie Dudek and Acacia Tupa both chipped in three. Garstecki drove in two runs in the first game before Iliopoulos had three runs batted in during the second contest.
UW-Oshkosh talied seven doubles among its 24 hits as Tupa had a two-bagger and a stolen base in both games, and Garstecki, Iliopoulos, Ritter, Emily Cliver and Natalie Dillon each added one double Tuesday.
In Tuesday's first game, the Titans took a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the first inning and reclaimed the lead for good following a two-run fifth frame for a 3-1 advantage. Garstecki delivered a run-scoring single in the first inning before lacing an RBI double during the fifth frame. Cliver later drove in Garstecki for what turned out to be the winning run on a sacrifice fly during the fifth inning.
UW-Oshkosh starting pitcher Maddie Fink allowed just three singles over the first four innings until UW-Platteville broke up the shutout with a run that tied the score at 1 during the top of the fifth inning. Fink then retired the Pioneers in order during the sixth frame and worked out of a jam in the seventh to preserve the win.
UW-Platteville hit back-to-back singles with one out in the seventh inning, and the Pioneers cut their deficit to 3-2 as the lead runner scored after a rundown between first and second base did not result in an out. A passed ball advanced the tying run to second base and a sharp single put Pioneers at the corners with one put, but Fink struck out the next batter and induced a popup to end the game.
Fink improved her record to 7-2 this season, scattering seven hits and three walks while striking out two en route to her sixth complete game of the year.
Garstecki, Ritter and Tupa each had two of the Titans' eight hits. Garstecki had two RBIs to increase her team-leading total to 16 this year.
Amanda Stanczuk went 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Pioneers.
UW-Platteville starting pitcher Ashton Hoeppner (3-6) suffered the complete-game loss, yielding three runs on eight hits in six innings. She walked three and struck out two.
During the second contest, the Titans jumped out to a 6-0 lead after two innings and cruised behind a 16-hit attack. UW-Oshkosh has now collected at least eight hits in 16 of its 18 games this year.
Iliopoulos provided the Titans a 2-0 lead on a two-run single in the first inning. UW-Oshkosh's four-run second frame featured a run-scoring double from Dillon, a two-run double by Tupa and a run-scoring bunt single from Ritter. Iliopoulos drove in her third run of the game on a fourth-inning single that scored pinch-runner Zoe Malone for a 7-0 advantage.
Ritter, who went 4-for-4 to raise her batting average to a team-high .500 on the year, had another RBI single that brought home Tupa for an 8-1 advantage in the home half of the fifth frame.
UW-Platteville cut its deficit to 8-4 with a three-run sixth inning, but Fink held the Pioneers scoreless in the seventh frame to complete the sweep.
Titans starting pitcher Mia Crotty (4-2) earned the victory, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks with one strikeout across the first six innings before giving way to Fink.
Iliopoulos ended the nightcap 3-for-4 with a season-high three runs batted in for the Titans, who also received two hits each from Cliver, Dudek and Garstecki.
Haili Cota and Angela Laabs both accounted for two of the Pioneers' seven hits.
Pioneers starting pitcher Abby Burns (3-3) was charged with the loss after giving up five runs on six hits in one-plus inning.
UW-Oshkosh continues WIAC play with a pair of games at UW-Stevens Point on Thursday (April 22).
Photo by Steve Frommell, UW-Oshkosh Athletics