Blugolds Post Two Wins Over Titans

UW-Eau Claire allowed one run on the way to sweeping a pivotal Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference softball doubleheader against nationally ranked UW-Oshkosh on Monday (May 2) in Eau Claire.

UW-Eau Claire (23-7, 9-3 WIAC) claimed the opener, 5-1, and the nightcap by a 4-0 score during UW-Oshkosh's regular season finale.

UW-Oshkosh (24-8, 10-4 WIAC), ranked 19th in the NCAA Division III by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, is the reigning league regular season co-champion and the defending league tournament winner.

The Titans and UW-Eau Claire exchanged places in the WIAC standings as UW-Oshkosh falls one spot into third while the Blugolds moves from third to second.

UW-Eau Claire, which has two league games remaining, and UW-Oshkosh will be either the second or third seed and will oppose each other at the WIAC Tournament that begins Friday (May 6) at top-seeded UW-La Crosse (25-8, 13-1 WIAC), which secured the 2022 regular season title Monday.

UW-Eau Claire yielded seven total hits Monday versus a UW-Oshkosh squad that entered the day pacing the WIAC in scoring, batting average and on-base percentage.

In Monday's first contest, UW-Eau Claire scored twice in the bottom of the first inning and a pair of Blugolds pitchers held the Titans to three hits.

UW-Eau Claire starting pitcher Madi Zerr (6-0) earned the win after giving up one run on two hits and four walks with two strikeouts in four innings. Jacie Schultz picked up the save, tossing three scoreless frames on one hit in relief of Zerr.

Sophie Wery drew a bases-loaded walk against Zerr to cut UW-Oshkosh's deficit to 2-1 in the top of the third inning, but Ellie Decker hit a pair of run-scoring singles and Megan Maruna homered to extend the Blugolds' lead to 5-1 after three frames.

Decker went 2-for-2 with three runs batted in to pace UW-Eau Claire.

Abby Garceau, Gabby Buikema and Grace Stevens each singled to account for UW-Oshkosh's three hits.

Hannah Ritter, a 2021 NFCA Third Team All-American for the Titans, had her 64-game on-base streak come to an end during the opener.

Reigning WIAC Pitcher of the Year Maddie Fink (9-5) suffered the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) across five innings. Mia Crotty provided a perfect inning of relief with one strikeout for UW-Oshkosh.

During the nightcap, Schultz and Zerr stymied the UW-Oshkosh offense again as Schultz (10-1) was the winning pitcher and Zerr notched her first save. Schultz gave up one hit while not issuing a walk across the first four frames. Zerr tossed three shutout innings on three hits to preserve the win.

Decker hit a three-run homer that proved to be the difference in the bottom of the first inning. Decker had two of the Blugolds' seven hits.

Buikema, Ritter, Stevens and Brianna Davis all hit singles for UW-Oshkosh. Buikema also stole a base.

UW-Oshkosh starting pitcher Sydney Nemetz (11-1) was charged with her first loss of the season, surrendering four runs on seven hits and four walks with three strikeouts during a complete-game effort. Nemetz, the WIAC leader in wins, allowed just four hits after the first inning.