The UW-Oshkosh softball team competed in the Illinois Wesleyan Invitational over the weekend of March 28-29, winning three of its four games in the invitational in Bloomington, Illinois.
The Titans began the Invitational with a doubleheader on Saturday, salvaging a split vs the home IWU Titans and the Calvin University (Michigan) Knights.
In UWO’s first game vs Illinois Wesleyan, Kiran Sanford started the game, pitching 3.2 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out five. Gianna Certa pitched six innings for Illinois Wesleyan, allowing four runs on eight hits.
All of UWO’s damage came with a pair of two-run innings. Designated Hitter Olivia Ullmann scored Brianne Lopez and Olivia Baugnet on a two run double to claim a 2-1 lead in the third. Then in the sixth after IWU scored two in the fourth, Mary Kate Quaid hit a two run homer to reclaim the lead at 4-3. In the bottom of the seventh, IWU was able to get on UWO’s pitcher Brianna Bougie. A bunt single, followed by another single and a walk allowed IWU to load the bases with no out. IWU took advantage as Isabella Boskey hit a walkoff grand slam to give IWU a 7-4 win.
The Titans wrapped Saturday with a 13-5 win over Calvin. Grace Nardi started the game for UWO, pitching 3.1 innings while allowing three runs on four hits. Sanford came in for relief, finishing the final 2.2 innings while allowing two runs on five hits to earn the win.
The Titans blew it open with a seven-run second and a four-run fourth behind a 2 RBI double from Emma Bohn and a two-run homer from Quaid. Lopez ended the game early in the sixth with a walkoff single to enact a mercy rule.
In the doubleheader to wrap up the invitational on Sunday, the Titans ended it with a sweep over Wartburg University (Illinois) and Illinois Wesleyan.
Sanford pitched all seven innings in the win over Wartburg, allowing only one run on five hits while striking out six. A trio of one-run innings followed by a two run seventh that came behind rbi singles from Lopez and Sarah Hammerton gave the Titans a 5-1 win over the Knights.
In the rematch vs IWU which was also the finale of the invitational, Bougie and UWO got revenge over Illinois Wesleyan. Bougie, who took the loss vs IWU in the first game of the weekend, took the win by pitching a complete game shutout. In her seven scoreless innings, Bougie only allowed four hits and one walk. With the complete game from Bougie, all UWO needed was a first inning home run from Hammerton to earn a 1-0 win.
The Titans will return to the field on Thursday, April 2. UWO will travel to Fond Du Lac to play at Marian University in a doubleheader. Game one will start at 3 p.m. and game two will start at 5 p.m.
