Softball

UW-Oshkosh Captures Softball Championship

EAU CLAIRE, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh captured the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) softball regular-season championship with 6-1 and 10-4 triumphs over UW-Eau Claire at Bollinger Fields on May 4.
 
It is the fifth regular-season title in program history and second in the last four seasons. UW-Oshkosh (36-2 overall, 12-2 WIAC) also secured the No. 1 seed for the WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver’s). The Titans will host the six-team, double-elimination event May 9-12, with the winner receiving an automatic NCAA bid. UW-Stevens Point (31-5, 11-3) is the No. 2 seed, UW-La Crosse (23-17, 9-5) the No. 3 seed, UW-Whitewater (28-8, 9-5) the No. 4 seed, UW-Eau Claire (18-16, 7-7) the No. 5 seed and UW-Stout (21-18, 6-8) the No. 6 seed.

In the first contest, UW-Oshkosh's Sydney Nemetz won her 16th game of the season after pitching all seven innings and allowing one run on five hits, while striking out three batters.
 
Sophie Wery led the Titans with a three-RBI performance and went 1-for-2 with a home run and a run scored. Morgan Rau went 2-for-4 in game one with a home run, a single and a run scored.
 
The Titans opened the scoring in the top of the first inning when Wery smashed a three-run homer. UW-Oshkosh opened up a 5-0 lead in the top of the third after Rau hit a two-run home run.
 
UW-Eau Claire’s Norah Kutnink belted a solo home run in the fifth inning to cut the deficit to 5-1.
 
The Titans tacked on another run in the top of the seventh inning when Haylie Wittman hit an RBI single to right field.
 
Abby Freismuth started for the Titans in game two, going 2.1 innings and allowing three runs on four hits, while striking out two batters. Brianna Bougie came in for 4.2 innings of relief, giving up one run on three hits.
 
Wery had another three-RBI performance in the second game, going 2-for-4 with a double, a single and a run scored. Ritter and Rau each had two-RBI games, with Ritter going 2-for-5 and Rau going 1-for-4.

The Titans struck first in the top of the third inning after Garceau hit an RBI single up the middle. UW-Oshkosh tacked on another run later in the inning after Wery hit an RBI fielder's choice and Garceau scored on a throwing error.
 
The Blugolds responded with three runs in the bottom of the third to take a 3-2 lead.
 
Hailey Hagedorn had a RBI single, Siri Springer drew a bases loaded walk and Miranda Gernander brought in the lead run on a run-scoring fielder’s choice.
 
UW-Oshkosh regained the lead with four runs in the top of the fifth when Ritter hit an RBI double to right field and Wery hit an RBI single. Later in the inning, Rau had a run-scoring double, and Wery scored on an error by the Eau Claire catcher after Cali Divito grounded into a fielder’s choice.
 
UW-Eau Claire’s Paige Lathrop had a RBI single to narrow the lead to 7-4 in the sixth inning, but the Titans closed out the game with three runs in the seventh.
 
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