Titans Shut Out Saints To Gain Split Of Two Results
Maddie Fink tossed a three-hit shutout during the nightcap and Abby Garceau had five hits on the day as the nationally ranked UW-Oshkosh softball team split two games to close out the UW-Oshkosh Invitational on Sunday (March 6) in the Rec Plex.
UW-Oshkosh (5-3), ranked 12th in the NCAA Division III by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, downed The College of St. Scholastica (Minn.) by a 9-0 score in five innings after suffering a 7-6, eight-inning setback against UW-Superior during the first game of the day.
Garceau went 5-for-8 at the plate Sunday to increase her batting average to .500 this season.
The Titans produced 21 hits on the day, including four by Ana Iliopoulos and three apiece from Brianna Davis and Hannah Ritter. Ritter, a 2021 NFCA Third Team All-American, collected at least one hit in both contests Sunday to increase her consecutive on-base streak to 39 games.
In the win over The College of St. Scholastica, the Titans scored twice in the top of the first inning before tacking on seven insurance runs during the second frame.
UW-Oshkosh's nine runs and 11 hits versus the Saints established season highs for a program that won the regular season and postseason titles a year ago in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference before going on to finish fifth at the Division III World Series.
The run support was more than enough for Fink, the reigning WIAC Pitcher of the Year, who limited The College of St. Scholastica to just three hits without issuing a walk. Fink (2-2) recorded four strikeouts en route notching her first shutout of the season and eighth career.
Sophie Wery delivered a two-out, two-run single with the bases loaded in the first inning. Davis and Ritter both crossed the plate on what turned out to be the game-winning hit by Wery.
UW-Oshkosh then put the game away early by exploding for seven runs on four hits and a pair of walks as seven straight Titans reached base during the top of the second frame. Zoe Malone walked to spark the onslaught before Gabby Buikema reached first base safely and Garceau singled to load the bases for Davis, who walked to bring home Malone. Ritter and Grace Stevens then hit back-to-back two-run singles, and Iliopoulos kept the rally alive with a single to plate Stevens for an 8-0 cushion. Emily Cliver later capped the scoring with a run-producing sharp liner to first base that allowed Iliopoulos to cross the plate.
The Titans turned an inning-ending double play during the home half of the second frame, and Fink worked around a leadoff double in the third inning by inducing a groundout and recording a pair of strikeouts. Fink went on to retire the last nine batters she faced, setting down the Saints in order in the fourth and fifth innings.
Garceau was 3-for-3 for the Titans, who also received two hits from Davis.
Saints starting pitcher Haley Rosenthal (1-1) suffered the loss, surrendering nine runs (seven earned) in a complete game effort.
During the loss to UW-Superior, the Yellowjackets erased deficits of 3-0 after three innings and 4-3 after five frames before scoring twice in the top of the eighth. UW-Oshkosh answered with one run during the home half of the eighth inning but left the tying run in scoring position.
Kaela Kraemer's two-out, two-run single was the difference for UW-Superior during the eighth frame. Iliopoulos doubled to score Buikema from second base and pull the Titans within 7-6 with one out. However, Yellowjackets starting pitcher Tayler Kraemer got a groundout and a popup to complete the victory.
Tayler Kraemer improved her record to 3-0 this season, allowing six runs (four earned) while scattering 10 hits and two walks with five strikeouts.
Kaela Kraemer went 3-for-5 to pace UW-Superior.
Iliopoulos was 3-for-4 with a double for the Titans while Garceau and Ritter added two hits and two runs batted in apiece, and Davis scored twice. Garceau plated Iliopoulos and came around to score herself when an outfielder error allowed her to cross the plate standing up for a 2-0 lead in the third inning.
UW-Oshkosh pitcher Mia Crotty (2-1) was charged with loss in relief of starter Sydney Nemetz. Nemetz gave up four runs (three earned) and struck out four across the first five innings before Crotty yielded three runs (two earned) during the final three frames.
The Titans are off until embarking on a trip to Florida from March 21-25. UW-Oshkosh opens its eight-game Sunshine State schedule against Williams (Mass.) and Grinnell (Iowa) colleges March 21 in Clermont.