Titans Win Twice, Advance to Regional Title Game
Maddie Fink pitched a pair of shutouts, Gabby Buikema and Acacia Tupa both homered, and the UW-Oshkosh softball team defeated University of Southern Maine and Linfield University (Ore.) on Saturday (May 22) to clinch a berth in the title game at the NCAA Division III Championship Eau Claire Regional.
Top-seeded UW-Oshkosh (27-11) remained unbeaten at the double elimination Eau Claire Regional with a 7-0 victory over fourth-seeded University of Southern Maine (31-6-1) and a 3-0 win against third-seeded Linfield University (38-8), which entered the national tournament ranked eighth in the country by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
Fink (19-3), the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year, tossed a three-hitter against University of Southern Maine before firing a five-hitter against Linfield University to notch her sixth shutout of the year.
The Titans advance to in the play Eau Claire Regional championship game at 11 a.m. Sunday (May 23) against the victor of a 9 a.m. elimination contest between Linfield University and fifth-seeded Piedmont University (Ga.) (24-12). Should UW-Oshkosh lose the 11 a.m. game, a second championship contest will be held at 1 p.m.
The champion of the Eau Claire Regional will join seven other regional winners at the Division III World Series that commences May 27 in Salem, Va.
In Saturday's first game, Fink had a no-hitter through 4.2 innings, and the Titans backed Fink's gem with a solo home run by Tupa and a grand slam from Buikema.
Tupa led off the game with a solo homer to center field. The home run was Tupa's second in as many games, fourth of the season and 14th career. Buikema later blasted her first career home run over the left field wall to extend the Titan cushion to 5-0 in the third inning. Tupa, Morgan Rau and Hannah Ritter all came around to score on Buikema's longball.
Hannah Ritter plated the Titans' sixth run on a groundout that plated Tupa. UW-Oshkosh then capped the scoring during the sixth frame as Emily Cliver crossed the plate on a Huskies error.
University of Southern Maine had just one baserunner via an error through the first four innings against Fink. Vying for the 11th no-hitter in program history, Fink gave up a two-out double in the fifth inning but kept the shutout intact by inducing a lineout to Ana Iliopoulos at third base. Trailing 7-0 in the home half of the sixth inning, the Huskies singled twice. However, Fink got a flyout and a groundout to preserve the shutout.
Fink allowed a double, a pair of singles and one walk while striking out eight in her 15th complete game of the season.
Tupa went 2-for-4 with a walk, three runs scored and a pair of stolen bases. Cliver added two of the Titans' nine hits.
Huskies starting pitcher Alexis Brown (13-3) suffered the loss, ceding five runs on four hits and three walks with two strikeouts in three innings.
University of Southern Maine, making its third NCAA appearance and first since back-to-back trips in 1998-99, was eliminated from the tournament with the loss.
During the winner's bracket final against nationally ranked and two-time national champion Linfield University, Fink and Wildcats starting pitcher Maddy Podnar kept the game scoreless until the Titans broke through with three unearned runs in the fifth inning.
UW-Oshkosh scored its first run via an error as Sydney Rau, pinch-running after a Cliver single, raced all the way around to score from first base on an errant throw by catcher Shakayla Snyder on a ball off the bat of Amanda Mc Ilhany. Snyder's throw went down the right field line, allowing Mc Ilhany to reach third base. Mc Ilhany scored easily on Tupa's sacrifice fly that upped the Titan advantage to 2-0.
The Titans went on to load the bases with two outs in the fifth inning via walks to Ritter and Buikema, and a single by Morgan Rau. Garstecki then drew a walk to plate Ritter with the third run.
Fink, who won her 10th consecutive decision, limited the prolific Linfield University offense to just five singles and one walk. The Wildcats went into the national tournament ranked second in the country in both home runs and runs scored, seventh in stolen bases and slugging percentage, and eighth in scoring.
Fink struck out four en route to improving her season record to 19-3 as just two Wildcat baserunners reached as far as second base the entire game.
Cliver, Garstecki, Natalie Dudek and Morgan Rau accounted for the four UW-Oshkosh hits. Dudek, Ritter, Buikema and Garstecki also drew walks.
Podnar (13-4) was charged with the loss, surrendering three unearned runs on three hits and four walks in 4.2 innings.
Linfield University, which suffered its second shutout loss of the season, won Division III titles in 2007 and 2011, and finished as the national runner-up in 2010 and 2012.
UW-Oshkosh seeks its third regional championship (1988, 2017) on Sunday.
Eau Claire Regional Game 5 Postgame Interview • Head Coach Scott Beyer
Eau Claire Regional Game 5 Postgame Interview • Pitcher Maddie Fink
Eau Claire Regional Game 5 Postgame Interview • Outfielder Gabby Buikema
Eau Claire Regional Game 8 Postgame Interview • Head Coach Scott Beyer
Eau Claire Regional Game 8 Postgame Interview • Pitcher Maddie Fink
Eau Claire Regional Game 8 Postgame Interview • Shortstop Natalie Dudek