UW-Whitewater, ranked eighth in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III poll, split a doubleheader at UW-Oshkosh Wednesday. UW-W won game one 8-1 and lost game two 5-0. It was the third straight time that UW-W, 20-6 overall and 5-3 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, has split a twinbill. UW-Oshkosh is 16-8 overall and 3-3 in league play.
game one box score
UW-W got out in front quickly, pushing across two runs in the top of the first. Leftfielder Amanda Mertes (Des Plaines, IL/Elk Grove) singled from her leadoff spot and was sacrificed to second by second baseman Mimi Ramirez (Chicago, IL/Trinity). Third baseman Lauren Rankins (Marengo, IL/Marengo) brought in the first run with a single. Catcher Emily Epifanio (Park Ridge, IL/Maine South) doubled Rankins to third, and shortstop Laura Eichenold (Elmwood Park, IL/Trinity) brought her in with a fly ball.
Rightfielder Haley Krueger (Beach Park, IL/Waukegan) opened the second with a single and moved up sixty feet with a walk. Ramirez singled Krueger to third, and Krueger scored on a fielder's choice to make it 3-0 Whitewater.
With one out in the third, first baseman Samie Seamon (Antioch, IL/Antioch) singled and came in as the next batter, first baseman Jordyn Gaza (Mundelein, IL/Carmel Catholic), doubled. Krueger picked up the second RBI of the inning with a single to make it 5-0 Whitewater.
The Titans got on the board in the bottom of the third with a walk, a double by shortstop Sydnee Wyss and a ground ball.
A Ramirez walk and home run by Epifanio, her team high fifth of the year, made it 7-1 after four innings.
In the sixth inning Epifanio singled. A pinch runner advanced to third on a wild pitch, and Eichenold drove in the run with a double to give UW-W an 8-1 advantage.
game two box score
Oshkosh turned the tables in game two, scoring two runs in their half of the first inning on a run scoring double by third baseman Julia Burns and a RBI single off the bat of first baseman Tess Fadness. Catcher Haley Freimuth made it 3-0 with her second home run of the season in the second inning, and a two run single by pinch hitter Demi Kastein in the third increased the Titans' lead to 5-0.
The pitchers ruled the rest of the way. UW-O's Courtney Wautier, 5-5, went the distance. She allowed six hits, did not walk a batter, and struck out four. Whitewater's Katie Boyle (Greendale/Thomas More), 3-3, surrendered eight hits and two walks, and struck out two.
Whitewater second baseman Mimi Ramirez (Chicago, IL/Trinity) led all batters with a 3x3 game, and Epifanio went 2x3. Titan DH Jamie Braden and Fadness were both 2x3.
UW-W will continue Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play Sunday, hosting UW-Eau Claire on the17th at 2:00, and UW-Platteville Tuesday, April 19 at 3:00. Both doubleheaders will be played on the van Steenderen Field, west of Perkins Stadium and north of Williams Center/Kachel Fieldhouse on the UW-W campus. Fans can use the stadium parking lot free of charge.
For additional information: Brenda Volk, UW-W coach
