UW-Oshkosh catcher Katie Koepsel (Fr. • Oak Creek) was named to the All-WIAC Softball Team after leading the league in slugging percentage. She is the first Titan freshman to make the squad in seven years.

Koepsel topped UW-Oshkosh with nine home runs and a .370 batting average. She posted a .739 slugging percentage on the strength of 68 total bases in 92 at-bats. Starting 31 of her 39 games, Koepsel also totaled five doubles, 16 walks, 16 runs scored and 21 runs batted in.

Koepsel’s nine homers ranked second in the WIAC. She launched a round-tripper in four consecutive games at Platteville and Eau Claire from April 25-28. During a victory over St. Olaf College (Minn.), Koepsel went 4-for-4 and drove home three runs. She also tallied four hits and three runs scored in a win against UW-Superior on April 29.

UW-Oshkosh also had utility player Julie Sweeney (Fr. • Arlington Heights, Ill.), outfielder Hillary Trebiatowski (Jr. • Plover) and pitcher Courtney Wautier (Jr. • Brussels) receive All-WIAC honorable mention. Sweeney appeared in 28 games with seven home runs, 21 RBI and a .342 batting average. As a pitcher, Sweeney totaled 86 strikeouts and a 2.93 earned run average in 107.2 innings.

Trebiatowski hit .333 at the plate while starting 33 contests. She added eight doubles, 19 runs scored and 16 RBI. Wautier listed second in the league with 128 strikeouts and a .234 opponents batting average. Her 138 innings featured an 11-7 record, 10 complete games and 2.13 ERA.

The All-WIAC Team consisted of 20 players, including five from both UW-Eau Claire and UW-Whitewater. The Blugolds chosen were Nikki Bromelkamp, Amanda Fischer, Ashley Meinen, Emily Muller and Taylor Pierce. UW-Whitewater had Katie Boyle, Laura Eichenold, Emily Epifanio, Paige Evangelista and Amanda Mertes.

UW-River Falls placed four women on the squad with Hayley Buchanan, Ashley Goettl, Patty Olson and Rose Tusa. The remaining members were Lauren Beres and Katie Keyes of UW-La Crosse, Alison Gray of UW-Stout, Chantal McReynolds of UW-Platteville and Taylor VanDamme of UW-Superior.

Tusa, who led the conference with 23 wins, 225 strikeouts and a 1.62 ERA, received Pitcher of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Epifanio was named the top position player thanks to her eight home runs and .388 batting average. UW-Eau Claire’s Leslie Huntington earned WIAC Coach of the Year.

Three UW-Oshkosh student-athletes have been selected to participate in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Career in Sports Forum. The conference will be held June 7-10 in Indianapolis, Ind.

Representing UW-Oshkosh are women's soccer player Katie Berkopec (So. • Apple Valley, Minn.), women's basketball player Rebekah Sittig (So. • Sturtevant) and women's softball player Celes Zaragoza (Fr. • San Antonio, Texas).

The three Titans are the only student-athletes chosen from a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference school. The only other school from Wisconsin with a participant is Carthage College.

The NCAA Career in Sports Forum is a four-day event through which selected student-athletes explore and are educated on careers in sports, with a primary focus on intercollegiate athletics. The participants are given an educational opportunity to learn and gain valuable exposure to careers in sports, specifically in the areas of coaching, administration and sports entertainment. They examine key functions of a coach or administrator within athletics, including foundational skills such as communication, networking, recruiting, managing culture and budgeting. Additionally, the Forum dispels myths about careers in athletics, as well as facilitates the opportunity to obtain information from current and future athletics professionals.

This year's forum will feature 300 of the 650 NCAA student-athletes who completed an application.

UW-Oshkosh’s season came to a close after defeats to UW-Eau Claire and UW-Platteville at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women's Softball Tournament on Friday (May 4) in Eau Claire.

The regular-season champion Blugolds (31-10) took down the Titans, 5-2, in the first round. During the afternoon elimination game, UW-Platteville (20-18) made its only hit of the game count for a 1-0 decision.

The Titans (22-20) got on the board first against UW-Eau Claire. During the second inning, Julie Sweeney (Fr. • Arlington Heights, Ill.) singled and later scored on an error. Emily Miskoski (Fr. • Stevens Point) then grounded out to plate another run and make it 2-0.

The Blugolds eventually broke out with two runs in both the fifth and sixth frames. After marking on Emily Haluska’s single and a dropped fly ball, Jess Freagon singled up the middle for a 3-2 lead. The sixth inning featured RBI on a double from Taylor Pierce and a single by Amanda Fischer.

UW-Oshkosh posted three singles in the seventh, but Fischer threw out Sweeney from right field to end the contest.

Emma Wishau took the win with no earned runs allowed over seven frames. Courtney Wautier (Jr. • Brussels) started for UW-Oshkosh and went four innings with one earned run. The tough-luck loss went to Sweeney, who saw four unearned runs score during her two frames.

Sweeney led all Titan batters with three hits, while Fischer recorded three hits for UW-Eau Claire.

Against UW-Platteville, the Titans drew two walks in the second inning. Miskoski then bounced a single on the infield, but Ashlen Folkers fired home and nailed a runner at the plate. UW-Oshkosh’s only other hit was a single from Emily Mallek (Fr. • Plover) during the sixth.

The Pioneers’ deciding tally came in the fourth frame. A fielding error put a runner aboard. Following a sacrifice, Molly Rice belted a single to left that earned the 1-0 lead.

Jeni Freiburger sent down 10 straight batters from the third through sixth innings. She totaled five strikeouts and two walks for the victory.

The loss went to Wautier, who allowed just one hit over 4.2 frames. Sweeney followed and retired all four Pioneers that she faced.

UW-Oshkosh begins action in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women's Softball Tournament by battling top-seeded UW-Eau Claire on Friday (May 4) in Eau Claire.

UW-Oshkosh earned the double-elimination tournament's sixth seed after finishing sixth in the league's regular-season standings with a 7-9 record. The Titans own a 22-18 overall record, including losses of 10-3 and 10-6 to UW-Eau Claire on April 28.

UW-Eau Claire won the WIAC's regular-season championship with a 14-2 record. It was the eighth WIAC title for the Blugolds, who enter their 10 a.m. contest against UW-Oshkosh with a 14-game winning streak and a 30-10 overall record.

Other opening round games on Friday have second-seeded UW-Whitewater (29-9) playing fifth-seeded UW-Platteville (19-17) at noon and third-seeded UW-River Falls (25-12) meeting fourth-seeded UW-Stout (18-20) at 2 p.m.

Action in the three-day tournament concludes on Sunday (May 6) with the championship game. The winner of the WIAC Tournament advances to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Championship.

The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) has named UW-Oshkosh catcher/designated player Katie Koepsel (Fr. • Oak Creek) as its Women's Softball Position Player of the Week. The award was for games played April 23-29.

Koepsel hit .667 (12-18) with four home runs, two doubles and nine runs batted in as UW-Oshkosh played doubleheaders against UW-Platteville, UW-Eau Claire and UW-Superior.

Koepsel compiled a 1.556 slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .714 while hitting safely in all six contests. She also hit one triple and scored eight runs. Koepsel handled all 24 of her fielding opportunities during the week without an error.

In UW-Oshkosh’s split of a doubleheader with UW-Platteville on April 25, Koepsel went 4-for-5 at the plate with two home runs and five runs batted in. She had three hits and four runs batted in during the Titans’ 9-8 win in the opener. Koepsel’s solo home run in the ninth inning provided the margin of victory.

During a pair of losses to league-leading UW-Eau Claire on April 28, Koepsel went 3-for-5 at the plate with two home runs and three runs batted in. She hit a two-run home run in the opener and a solo home run in the nightcap.

In UW-Oshkosh’s split of a doubleheader with UW-Superior on April 29, Koepsel went 5-for-8 at the plate with one run batted in. She had four hits, including a double and a triple, in the Titans’ 7-5 victory in the opener.

Emma Wishau of UW-Eau Claire was selected as the WIAC Pitcher of the Week.

Katie Koepsel (Fr. • Oak Creek) went 4-for-4 to help UW-Oshkosh take one game during its women's softball doubleheader against UW-Superior on Sunday (April 29) in Superior.

In the opener, Koepsel recorded a triple, double and two singles for the Titans’ 7-5 victory. Kayla Blom delivered a two-run single that proved to be the difference in the Yellowjackets’ 4-2 triumph.

The second inning of the day began with Koepsel’s triple to right field. She then scored on a groundout for the 1-0 lead. UW-Oshkosh (22-18/7-9 WIAC) increased that margin during the fourth, using a two-run hit by Kelley Koebler (Sr. • Janesville) and a run-scoring single from Emily Mallek (Fr. • Plover).

UW-Superior (12-20/5-11 WIAC) also found its groove in the fourth, scoring three times on Kristen Haider’s triple.

Following a fifth-frame single by Julie Sweeney (Fr. • Arlington Heights, Ill.), Koepsel crushed a double to give the Titans a 5-3 cushion. That margin didn’t last, however, as UW-Superior used Elle Niemala’s two-run single to tie the game during the sixth.

A Koepsel single started the eighth inning. With one out, Julia Burns (Sr. • Verona) smacked a double to left that brought home the lead run. Hayley Freimuth (Sr. • Combined Locks) added a run-scoring single for the final tally.

Sweeney got the win with two scoreless innings and three strikeouts. Courtney Wautier (Jr. • Brussels) tossed the opening five frames and yielded four runs. The loss went to Lindsay Garay, who surrendered seven runs on 15 hits over eight innings.

Two Titans got hit by pitches to start the game-two scoring. In the second frame, Mallek ripped a single that put UW-Oshkosh on top, 2-0.

UW-Superior marked three runs in the third frame and one more in the fourth. Taylor VanDamme attained the first RBI, while Blom poked her single with two outs to gain the 3-2 cushion. The Yellowjackets also received a run-scoring groundout from Haider in their next at-bat.

UW-Oshkosh put two runners on base during the fifth and seventh innings, but Amanda Le Bard got the critical outs. Le Bard allowed two runs in seven frames with five strikeouts. Sweeney started and received the defeat, going 4.1 innings with three earned runs.

The Titans are still in the hunt for a WIAC Tournament berth. Matchups will be official following the doubleheader between UW-La Crosse (5-9) and UW-River Falls (8-6) on Monday (April 30).

Amanda Fischer drove home nine runs as UW-Eau Claire took both women's softball games against UW-Oshkosh on Saturday (April 28) in Eau Claire. The Blugolds (28-10/12-2 WIAC) extended their winning streak to 12 and are tied for the league lead.

UW-Eau Claire tallied a 10-3 victory in the opener and a 10-6 decision in the second contest. In each game, the Blugolds took the lead and saw the Titans (21-17/6-8 WIAC) pull within one. The home squad then scored four runs during the sixth inning of both games.

The Blugolds got on the board first in the opener. After a pair of third-inning walks, Fischer drilled a three-run homer to center. UW-Oshkosh then responded in its next at-bat with a two-run shot from Katie Koepsel (Fr. • Oak Creek).

Nikki Bromelkamp tacked on a two-run double that made it 6-2 in the fifth frame. UW-Eau Claire marked four times in the sixth, featuring run-scoring singles by Fischer and Pierce.

Tess Fadness (So. • Eau Claire) contributed two hits for the Titans, including a RBI double during the sixth.

The win went to Emma Wishau after she tossed seven frames with three earned runs. Courtney Wautier (Jr. • Brussels) received the loss with six runs allowed over 4.2 innings.

In the nightcap, both teams got some offense in the third. After Hillary Trebiatowski (Jr. • Plover) gave the Titans a 1-0 cushion, the Blugolds stormed back with five runs in the bottom half. The first two scored on an error, while Fischer knocked another three-run homer to gain the 5-1 advantage.

UW-Oshkosh refused to go away during the fifth. Julie Sweeney (Fr. • Arlington Heights, Ill.) continued her impressive batting with a two-run homer to left. Koepsel came up next and delivered another round-tripper, cutting the deficit to 5-4.

The bottom of the sixth featured four runs as the Blugolds pulled away. Emily Haluska and Taylor Pierce each ripped a RBI single. With two outs, Fischer smoked a two-run triple to give her squad a 10-4 margin.

During the seventh, Julia Burns (Sr. • Verona) posted a run-scoring single and Demi Kastein (So. • Waupun) a RBI walk. The Titans received two hits apiece in the game from Burns, Koepsel, Sweeney and Kassie Krueger (So. • Plover).

After compiling four RBI in the opener, Fischer totaled five in the nightcap. Fischer entered the day with 18 RBI in 32 games.

Ashley Meinen gained the second pitching victory, posting 4.2 innings with three earned runs. Laura Raflik then surrendered two runs over 2.1 frames for the save. The loss went to Sweeney after she yielded 10 runs in 5.2 frames.

UW-Oshkosh has a doubleheader at UW-Superior on Sunday (April 29) to end the regular season.

Katie Koepsel (Fr. • Oak Creek) and Julie Sweeney (Fr. • Arlington Heights, Ill.) each hit two home runs during UW-Oshkosh’s split at UW-Platteville on Wednesday (April 25).

Both women's softball contests required extra time to determine a winner. Koepsel smacked a round-tripper in the ninth inning to give the Titans a 9-8 victory. In game two, Nathalie Schattner tallied six runs batted in and the game-winning double to give the Pioneers an 8-7 triumph in eight innings.

UW-Oshkosh (21-15/6-6 WIAC) relied on Koepsel in the opener, as she hit a run-scoring double in the first inning and a two-run single in the third. The Pioneers (18-14/8-6 WIAC) responded with three runs in the first and Chantal McReynolds’ homer during the second to tie the score at 4.

With two outs in the fourth frame, Hillary Trebiatowski (Jr. • Plover) grounded a single through the left side to go ahead. Sweeney stepped up to the plate next and crushed a three-run homer that made it 8-4.

UW-Platteville tallied four runs on four hits in the sixth. After RBI singles from Colleen Lowe and Molly Rice, Taylor Ruchti delivered a two-out, two-run single to tie the contest.

Koepsel homered with one out in the ninth to give Sweeney the pitching win. Sweeney went 3.1 scoreless innings with four strikeouts after Courtney Wautier (Jr. • Brussels) and Kimberly Lohre (Fr. • Glenview, Ill.) each allowed four runs. Melissa Anderson took the loss with nine earned runs on 15 hits over nine frames.

Schattner almost won the nightcap by herself. She notched a run-scoring single in the first, a RBI walk in the second and a three-run homer during the fourth.

UW-Oshkosh had another strong start with three walks in the opening inning. Tess Fadness (So. • Eau Claire) then made the Pioneers pay by mashing a grand slam to center.

Trailing 5-4, the Titans got a two-run blast from Sweeney in the fifth frame. Koepsel later launched her team’s fifth long ball of the day, gaining a 7-5 cushion in the sixth.

Two Pioneers singled to begin the bottom of the sixth, and Ashlen Folkers drove them home with a single up the middle. During the eighth, McReynolds opened with a double and posted the walk-off by scoring on Schattner’s two-bagger into the gap.

Anderson got the win with one run allowed in three frames, while Jeni Freiburger started and yielded six runs over five innings. UW-Oshkosh had Wautier pitch five innings (five ER) before Sweeney took the loss with one run allowed in two frames.

In the doubleheader, Fadness, Koepsel and Trebiatowski each totaled four hits. Trebiatowski also caught a deep fly at the wall to take away a Pioneer homer.

UW-Oshkosh plays a twinbill at UW-Eau Claire (26-10) on Saturday (April 28).

The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) has named UW-Oshkosh designated player Julie Sweeney (Fr. • Arlington Heights, Ill.) as its Women's Softball Position Player of the Week. The award was for games played April 16-22.

Sweeney hit .636 (7-11) with two home runs and nine runs batted in as UW-Oshkosh compiled a 5-1 record in games against UW-Stevens Point, UW-River Falls and UW-Stout.

Sweeney, who also compiled a 2-1 pitching record in four appearances, went to the plate in three of the Titans’ six games. She scored four runs while adding a double.

In UW-Oshkosh’s 10-3 win over UW-Stevens Point on April 17, Sweeney had a two-run home run among her three hits.

During UW-Oshkosh’s 8-7 win over defending WIAC champion UW-River Falls on April 21, Sweeney went 2-for-5 at the plate with two runs batted in.

In UW-Oshkosh’s 13-5 loss to UW-Stout on April 22, Sweeney went 2-for-3 at the plate with five runs batted in. Her hits were a three-run double and a two-run home run.

Ashley Meinen of UW-Eau Claire was selected as the WIAC Pitcher of the Week.

UW-Oshkosh won in its final at-bat for the third straight game during a split with the UW-Stout women's softball team on Sunday (April 22) at YP.com Softball Park.

Down by one, Julia Burns (Sr. • Verona) ripped a two-run single in the sixth inning for the Titans’ 4-3 triumph. The Blue Devils (15-17/5-7 WIAC) got rolling with a nine-run fifth frame to take the second contest, 13-5.

UW-Stout got all of its runs in the opener’s second inning. Following a pair of singles, Jessica Nicol posted a run-scoring hit. Jessica Behnke came up next and poked a two-run single to right field that made it 3-0.

Laura Vanderhoof held UW-Oshkosh (20-14/5-7 WIAC) to just one hit through four innings. During the fifth, the Titans used a walk and hit batter to put two women on base. Emily Mallek (Fr. • Plover) then crushed a double into the right-centerfield gap to score two runs.

Singles from Katie Koepsel (Fr. • Oak Creek) and Kimberly Lohre (Fr. • Glenview, Ill.) got UW-Oshkosh going in the sixth. With one out, Burns rifled one back up the middle to put her team ahead, 4-3.

Lohre relieved starting pitcher Courtney Wautier (Jr. • Brussels) in the seventh inning. Lohre (save) struck out the only batter she faced, while Wautier fanned five with three earned runs in 6.2 frames. Vanderhoof (loss) tossed all six innings and was charged with two ER.

Julie Sweeney (Fr. • Arlington Heights, Ill.) was the standout slugger of game two. She lifted a deep homer to left during the second frame. With two outs in the third, Sweeney belted a double that brought home three and gave the Titans a 5-1 advantage.

Of UW-Stout’s 18 hits in the nightcap, eight came during the fifth frame. Alison Gray had both a two-run double and a single during the inning. When Behnke walked with the bases loaded, the score was even at 5. Erin Moss added a two-run single, as the Blue Devils snatched a 10-5 lead.

Gray and Courtney Richardson topped all players their four-hit days. Richardson’s two-run double in the sixth extended the margin to 12-5.

Sweeney gave up six ER over 4.1 innings for the pitching loss, while Lohre also let in six runs over 1.1 frames. The win went to Vanderhoof, who fired 4.2 scoreless innings after Tara Kimberly allowed five runs in 2.1 innings.

UW-Oshkosh has its final six regular-season games on the road, beginning at UW-Platteville on Wednesday (April 25).

UW-Oshkosh head women's softball coach Cindy Suess gained her 200th coaching victory in the Titans' nine-inning, 3-2 win over defending WIAC champion UW-River Falls on Saturday (April 21) at YP.com Softball Park.

Suess, who is in her eighth season at UW-Oshkosh, is just the eighth coach in WIAC history to hit the 200-win milestone. She joins Sharon Panske as the only UW-Oshkosh coaches to achieve 200 wins. Panske totaled 298 victories while coaching the Titans from 1987-2003.

Since being named UW-Oshkosh's head coach in 2005, Suess has guided the Titans to a 200-122-1 record (.621 winning percentage). She has coached UW-Oshkosh to a winning season every year, including records of 36-11 in 2007 and 32-11 in 2008. Suess's 2007 team captured the WIAC championship, while her 2008 squad came within one victory of advancing to the NCAA Division III World Series. The Titans finished second in the WIAC standings in 2005, 2006 and 2008.

Suess, the 2007 WIAC Coach of the Year, has tutored 17 All-WIAC selections. Two of those players, pitcher Ronessa Stampfli and outfielder Whitney Tornow, were named NCAA Division III All-Americans.

Following graduation from Luxemburg-Casco High School, Suess attended Wartburg College (Iowa) and earned NCAA Division III All-America honors while playing softball for the Knights.

UW-Oshkosh (19-13) went nine innings to defeat UW-River Falls, 8-7, in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader. The Titans will host UW-Stout in a doubleheader on Sunday (April 22) at YP.com Softball Park.

UW-Oshkosh posted two walk-off victories in the ninth inning over the UW-River Falls women's softball team on Saturday (April 21) at YP.com Softball Park. The Falcons are the defending WIAC champion.

The Titans (19-13/4-4 WIAC) gave up leads in the seventh frame of each contest before rallying in extra innings. During the opener, Emily Mallek (Fr. • Plover) raced home from first base to win the 3-2 game on Hillary Trebiatowski’s (Jr. • Plover) double. Julie Sweeney (Fr. • Arlington Heights, Ill.) then ripped a single for the 8-7 nightcap walk-off.

Courtney Wautier (Jr. • Brussels) blanked UW-River Falls for the first six innings of game one. Meanwhile, UW-Oshkosh scored on Kelley Koebler’s (Sr. • Janesville) double during the second and Trebiatowski’s single in the fifth.

Trailing 2-0, the Falcons (20-11/5-5 WIAC) marked two runs in their seventh at-bat. The Titans turned a double play to prevent one score, but Hayley Buchanan came up with two outs and booked a single to tie the game. Buchanan extended her hitting streak to 18 and finished the day with five hits.

UW-Oshkosh reached on an error to open the ninth before Trebiatowski’s clutch double. That gave Sweeney the pitching win with her three shutout frames. Wautier went six innings and allowed two runs with five strikeouts.

Rose Tusa, who entered with the conference’s best ERA (1.38) and strikeout total (147), yielded two runs over five innings as the Falcon starter. Abbie Morris (loss) surrendered the final run.

UW-River Falls tallied in each of the first two innings during the second contest. In the bottom of the second, the Titans exploded for six runs on four hits. The vital blow was a two-run single by Kassie Krueger (So. • Plover), while Sweeney and Hayley Freimuth (Sr. • Combined Locks) each smacked a RBI single.

The Titans’ 6-2 lead held until the top of the seventh. Jamie Klein led off with a solo homer to right-center. Following back-to-back errors, Amber O’Connell notched a three-run triple to put the visitors on top, 7-6.

Tess Fadness (So. • Eau Claire) came up as UW-Oshkosh’s last chance with two outs during the bottom half. She launched a home run over the centerfield wall to force extra innings.

In the ninth, Kimberly Lohre (Fr. • Glenview, Ill.) nearly hit one out of the park, settling for a double. Lohre then touched the plate when Sweeney’s rocket got past the Falcon infielders.

The pitching win went to Lohre after she got seven outs without yielding a run. Sweeney went the first 6.2 frames and was charged with one earned run. UW-River Falls had Tusa (two runs) and Sarah Bohlen (six runs) each go 3.2 innings, as Abbie Morris (loss) allowed the deciding unearned score.

Cindy Suess obtained her 200th coaching victory in the first game of the day. Suess holds an overall record of 201-122-1 in her eighth season with the Titans.

UW-Oshkosh has a pair of contests with UW-Stout on Sunday (April 22) at YP.com Softball Park.

Kassie Krueger (So. • Plover) and Emily Miskoski (Fr. • Stevens Point) each delivered a clutch two-out hit during UW-Oshkosh’s sweep over the UW-Stevens Point women's softball team on Tuesday (April 17) at YP.com Softball Park.

The Titans (17-13/2-4 WIAC) overcame a three-run deficit in their final at-bat with Krueger’s triple for a 5-4 victory. Miskoski then crushed a three-run homer in the nightcap to pull away for a 10-3 triumph.

UW-Stevens Point (11-19/1-9 WIAC) had its first three hitters reach base during game one. Courtney Wautier (Jr. • Brussels) was able to get out of the inning with just one run allowed. The Pointers again loaded the bases in the third frame, and this time a fielding error let three runs score for the 4-1 margin.

After totaling three hits in the opening five innings, the Titans erupted for five in the sixth frame. Katie Koepsel (Fr. • Oak Creek) blasted a solo homer into the strong wind to lead off. Following a pair of singles, Krueger drilled her two-run triple into the right-centerfield gap to take a 5-4 lead.

Wautier (win) pitched all seven innings and yielded one earned run with six strikeouts. The loss went to Michelle Jones, who surrendered three earned runs on eight hits over six frames.

UW-Oshkosh’s offense continued its surge by tallying in the first four innings of the nightcap. With the bases loaded in the first, Demi Kastein (So. • Waupun) ripped a two-run single to go in front. Emily Mallek (Fr. • Plover) had three hits in the contest, as her run-scoring single made it 3-1 during the second.

Katie Krueger and Kelly Arndt posted RBI for the Pointers in the third inning to tie the score at 3. Julie Sweeney (Fr. • Arlington Heights, Ill.) then entered to pitch and bat cleanup. She singled during the bottom half and came home on Miskoski’s three-run shot over the left-field wall.

Leading 7-3, the Titans put the game out of reach with a three-run sixth frame. Sweeney capped her outstanding day with a two-run homer to go ahead, 9-3. On the mound, Sweeney gave up just one hit over five innings for the victory.

Sara Babbitts took the loss after watching six unearned runs cross the plate in three innings. Bekah Rennicke tossed the final three frames and allowed four runs.

UW-Oshkosh meets UW-River Falls for two games on Saturday (April 21) at YP.com Softball Park.

Katie Keyes went 6-for-6 at the plate to give UW-La Crosse two softball wins over UW-Oshkosh on Saturday (April 14) at YP.com Softball Park.

The Eagles (18-7/3-3 WIAC) took the first contest, 3-2, after Kelli Anderson launched a two-run homer during the seventh inning. UW-Oshkosh (15-13/0-4 WIAC) couldn’t overcome seven wild pitches in an 8-2 nightcap defeat.

Each team tallied once in the day’s opening frame. After Keyes dropped down a bunt single, Hailey Kunz was hit by a pitch to force home one run. The Titans equaled the score in the bottom half when Emily Mallek (Fr. • Plover) drilled a solo homer to left field.

UW-Oshkosh finally put together some offense in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Hillary Trebiatowski (Jr. • Plover) hit a line drive that snuck under the right fielder’s glove for a RBI single.

The Titans had a great chance to score in the sixth, putting runners on first and third with nobody out. However, a caught stealing, line out and foul out ended that threat.

Keyes singled to begin the seventh inning and scored on Anderson’s long fly over the left-field wall. Lacey Probst took the win after pitching the last four innings and allowing one run, while Courtney Wautier (Jr. • Brussels) surrendered two earned runs with 10 strikeouts in a complete-game defeat.

UW-La Crosse clinched the nightcap with five runs in the third inning and two in the second. The first two tallies scored on a passed ball and a groundout.

During the third frame, UW-La Crosse sent 11 batters to the plate. Three of them walked before advancing on a trio of wild pitches. The big hit was a two-run double by Keyes that gave the Eagles a 5-1 cushion.

The Titans registered three hits in both the third and fourth innings, scoring once in each. Kassie Krueger (So. • Plover) marked the first RBI with her double into the gap. Hayley Freimuth (Sr. • Combined Locks), who had three hits in the game, singled home one more to make it 7-2.

Probst started and got the victory with 3.1 innings of two-run ball. Lauren Beres tossed the final 3.2 frames while yielding just two hits. The loss fell on Julie Sweeney (Fr. • Arlington Heights, Ill.), who was charged with five earned runs in 2.1 innings.

UW-Oshkosh continues its eight-game homestand when it hosts UW-Stevens Point on Tuesday (April 17).

Katie Boyle and Bekka Houda allowed six hits total during UW-Whitewater’s softball wins over UW-Oshkosh on Wednesday (April 11) in Whitewater. The Warhawks (17-3/4-0 WIAC) are ranked ninth in the NCAA Division III by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

In the opener, Boyle surrendered four singles as UW-Whitewater rode its third-inning outburst to a 4-0 victory. Houda fired a two-hitter, while Emily Epifanio drove in both runs, for a 2-0 nightcap decision.

The Warhawks pulled away from a scoreless opener during the third frame. An error began the rally before Paige Evangelista roped a two-run double down the left-field line. Epifanio came up next and hit a single up the middle to drive home two more.

UW-Oshkosh (15-11/0-2 WIAC) stranded two runners on base during the fourth, sixth and seventh innings. In the final at-bat, the Titans put their first two batters on before Boyle retired the next three.

Courtney Wautier (Jr. • Brussels) accepted the complete-game defeat, allowing three earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts.

The Titans’ best opportunity to score in game two came during the first frame. An error, walk and Hillary Trebiatowski’s (Jr. • Plover) single loaded the bases before a foul out ended the threat. Tess Fadness (So. • Eau Claire) registered the other UW-Oshkosh hit with her single during the sixth frame.

In the bottom of the first, Mimi Ramirez walked and touched home on Epifanio’s groundout. Ramirez again drew a walk in the fifth and made it 2-0 by scoring on an Epifanio single.

Julie Sweeney (Fr. • Arlington Heights, Ill.) gave up just three hits in 5.1 innings, but surrendered two runs for the loss. Sweeney walked six and struck out five.

UW-Oshkosh has a doubleheader with UW-La Crosse (16-5) on Saturday (April 14) at YP.com Park.

The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) has selected UW-Oshkosh's Courtney Wautier (Jr. • Brussels) as its Women's Softball Pitcher of the Week. The award was for games played April 2-8.

Wautier appeared in four contests and registered a 1.03 earned run average in 20.1 innings pitched. She struck out 16 batters and walked just four. Only three of Wautier’s five runs were earned.

In UW-Oshkosh’s split of a doubleheader with St. Norbert College on April 4, Wautier earned the win after pitching six innings for the 10-2 complete game victory. Wautier allowed just six hits while striking out six batters during the Titans’ game one triumph.

In UW-Oshkosh’s split of a doubleheader with Ripon College on April 6, Wautier took the loss in the opener and recorded a save in the nightcap. During the Titans’ 3-0 loss in the first game, Wautier pitched all seven innings. She scattered 10 hits while yielding two earned runs and striking out five batters. In the second game, Wautier pitched one-third of an inning to collect the save in the Titans’ 7-4 win.

In UW-Oshkosh’s sweep of the University of Chicago on April 7, Wautier hurled a four-hit shutout in the opener. She helped the Titans tally a 2-0 victory by striking out five batters.

Catcher Nikki Bromelkamp of UW-Eau Claire was selected as the WIAC Position Player of the Week.

Julie Sweeney (Fr. • Arlington Heights, Ill.) and Courtney Wautier (Jr. • Brussels) each threw a shutout in UW-Oshkosh’s doubleheader sweep over the University of Chicago (Ill.) on Saturday (April 7) at YP.com Softball Park.

Wautier struck out five while allowing just four hits during the 2-0 opener victory. Sweeney improved on that effort, tossing a two-hitter in the 1-0 decision. Emily Mallek (Fr. • Plover) accounted for the nightcap’s only score with her third inning home run.

The Maroons (15-7) threatened against Wautier in the third and fourth innings. In the third, the Titans turned a 5-3-6 double play to wipe out a leadoff double. Wautier then speared a line drive and turned another twin killing to quiet a fourth-frame rally.

After reaching on an error during the third, Kelley Koebler (Sr. • Janesville) came home on Emily Miskoski’s (Fr. • Stevens Point) sacrifice squeeze. UW-Oshkosh gained its 2-0 margin when Hillary Trebiatowski (Jr. • Plover) smoked a run-scoring double into the gap.

Kim Cygan, who entered with an 8-1 record, took the loss after allowing two runs on five hits in the complete game.

Sweeney baffled the Maroons in the second contest, retiring the first 12 batters. The only hits were singles by Cygan and Liz Payonk during the fifth. With two runners on, Sweeney grabbed a line drive and nailed Cygan for a double play of her own.

Mallek’s solo shot easily cleared the left-field wall to begin the third frame. The Titans had three hits in the fourth, but two runners were caught stealing to keep the score 1-0.

The loss fell on Sarah Neuhaus, who surrendered seven hits and one run. Kassie Krueger (So. • Plover) led all players with her two-hit game.

UW-Oshkosh now opens WIAC play at nationally ranked UW-Whitewater (15-3) on Wednesday (April 11).

UW-Oshkosh battled back to take the second game of its home opener with Ripon College on Friday (April 6) at YP.com Softball Park.

Stephanie Rieuwpassa gave up just one infield single during the Red Hawks’ 3-0 opener victory. The Titans (13-9) got a two-run homer from Hillary Trebiatowski (Jr. • Plover) as they clinched the nightcap, 7-4.

Ripon College (7-9) crossed the plate during the first, third and seventh innings of game one. Cassie Bilotto marked a run-scoring single during the opening frame for the go-ahead score. Rieuwpassa then did some damage in the batter’s box, smashing a RBI double and a solo home run.

Rieuwpassa walked four and struck out four during her one-hitter. The only blemish was an infield single by Trebiatowski during the fourth inning. UW-Oshkosh put two runners on base during both the second and fifth, but couldn’t take advantage.

Courtney Wautier (Jr. • Brussels) accepted the loss after yielding two earned runs on 10 hits over seven innings. Three of those hits came from the bat of Rieuwpassa.

The offenses came alive in game two, with a combined seven runs in the first frame. Rieuwpassa got things started with a RBI single, while the Red Hawks made it 3-0 on a throwing error. UW-Oshkosh’s four-run response featured the two-run blast by Trebiatowski and a run-scoring single from Demi Kastein (So. • Waupun).

Three scoreless innings went by before Ripon tied the contest in the fifth. Ashley Gnacinski touched home on a wild pitch to earn the 4-4 deadlock.

Emily Miskoski (Fr. • Stevens Point) followed the same strategy, scoring on a fifth-inning wild pitch to put the Titans back on top. A Ripon fielding miscue and a single by Tess Fadness (So. • Eau Claire) brought home the final two runs.

After Julie Sweeney (Fr. • Arlington Heights, Ill.) tossed four innings of four-run ball, Kimberly Lohre (Fr. • Glenview, Ill.) got the victory with 2.2 scoreless frames. Wautier obtained the final out to record a save.

The loss fell on Gnacinski, who allowed four runs in the first four innings. Mallary Nissen pitched the final two innings and surrendered one earned run.

UW-Oshkosh concludes its nonconference slate against the University of Chicago (Ill.) on Saturday (April 7) at YP.com Softball Park.

Tess Fadness (So. • Eau Claire) and Katie Koepsel (Fr. • Oak Creek) homered as UW-Oshkosh took one of two softball games against St. Norbert College on Wednesday (April 4) in De Pere.

The Titans (12-8) scored in all but one inning to post a 10-2 opener victory. The second contest belonged to Shannen Schmidt, who pitched a three-hit shutout in the 1-0 decision.

Fadness started the day with a bang, launching a two-run homer in the first inning. After a Emily Miskoski (Fr. • Stevens Point) RBI double during the second frame, Koepsel connected for a three-run shot that made it 6-0 in the third.

In the fourth, Brittany Narges singled and scored to put the Green Knights (5-11) on the board. Samantha Gross added a run-scoring single to pull her squad within 7-2.

UW-Oshkosh put the game away with a two-run double by Fadness during the sixth. Courtney Wautier (Jr. • Brussels) gained the complete-game win, striking out six with one earned run over six innings. Morgan Rusch yielded eight ER on 13 hits for the loss.

St. Norbert tallied the lone run of the nightcap during the first frame. Steph Brunette marked a leadoff single and advanced on a sacrifice. With two outs, Morgan Buboltz ripped a single to go ahead, 1-0.

Schmidt sent the Titans down 1-2-3 during the first, second, fourth and fifth innings. UW-Oshkosh finally threatened with the help of a hit batter and single in the seventh. With the tying run on second base, Hayley Freimuth (Sr. • Combined Locks) grounded out to end the contest.

Julie Sweeney (Fr. • Arlington Heights, Ill.) took the hard-luck defeat, allowing four hits with five strikeouts in six frames. UW-Oshkosh’s hitting performances for the day featured three hits by both Fadness and Kassie Krueger (So. • Plover).

UW-Oshkosh has its home opener against Ripon College on Friday (April 6) at YP.com Softball Park.

UW-Oshkosh tallied a season-high 23 hits during its 16-8 softball win over Wartburg College (Iowa) on Sunday (April 1) in Moline, Ill. The Titans (11-7) fell to Augustana College (Ill.) by a 3-1 count in their second game of the day.

The Knights got off to a strong start in the first contest, gaining a 2-0 lead. UW-Oshkosh then tallied seven runs in the third frame. Julia Burns (Sr. • Verona) crushed a three-run homer before Kelley Koebler (Sr. • Janesville) posted a two-run single. Run-scoring singles also came from Tess Fadness (So. • Eau Claire) and Emily Miskoski (Fr. • Stevens Point) to go ahead, 8-3.

Wartburg roared back with a five-run fourth inning. The Knights (6-19) touched home on four different singles, including one by Katie Canney that tied the score at 8. Courtney Wautier (Jr. • Brussels) finally turned a double play to get out of the inning.

In its next at-bat, UW-Oshkosh scored four times on two-run singles by Kassie Krueger (So. • Plover) and Emily Mallek (Fr. • Plover). The lead increased with a Fadness solo homer during the fifth and three more runs during the sixth frame.

Wautier, who struck out four, earned the victory with 2.2 innings of shutout ball. Julie Sweeney (Fr. • Arlington Heights, Ill.) contributed 2.2 innings while allowing one earned run, after Demi Kastein (So. • Waupun) surrendered two runs in the opening frame.

Tori Herzberg (loss) was charged with six earned runs on 15 hits over 3.2 innings. Janelle Schneiderman got the final six outs with four runs allowed.

Augustana (14-5) used a splendid pitching performance from Sarah Hintz to defeat the Titans in game two. Hintz threw all seven innings and allowed one unearned run on five hits.

The Titans’ had the bases loaded during the second frame but grounded out. They used a Viking error in the fifth frame to record their lone tally. With two down, Fadness knocked a single to right field that tied the score, 1-1.

In the third inning, Augustana struck with a solo shot by Jillian Gibbs. The Vikings went in front on a fifth-frame error and made it 3-1 on Laura Behnke’s sixth-inning single.

Wautier (loss) started the contest and went 5.2 innings, yielding one earned run on six hits. Gibbs accounted for two of the Vikings’ eight hits.

For the day, Burns totaled five hits, three runs scored and four RBI. The Titans also received four hits and two RBI from Koebler.

UW-Oshkosh finally plays in Wisconsin when it visits St. Norbert College on Wednesday (April 4) in De Pere.

Emily Mallek (Fr. • Plover) led UW-Oshkosh with three hits during softball defeats to Cornell College (Iowa) and Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) on Saturday (March 31) in Moline, Ill.

Cornell (11-4) tallied all of its runs during the fifth and sixth frames to top the Titans, 6-4. After seven scoreless innings, the Gusties (7-5) used Kailey Morgan’s single in the eighth to grab a 1-0 walk-off victory.

Julie Sweeney (Fr. • Arlington Heights, Ill.) crushed a third-inning homer against Cornell for a 1-0 lead. UW-Oshkosh (10-6) then gained its second and third runs on a Julia Burns (Sr. • Verona) single in the fifth frame.

The Rams used two singles to set up Rebekah Ozga’s two-run double during the fifth. With the game tied at 3 in the sixth, Jackie Sernek delivered a RBI single to right-center. Britt Schoon then put it out of reach with a two-run shot to lead, 6-3.

Katie Koepsel (Fr. • Oak Creek) marked a RBI single during the seventh, but the Titans stranded the bases loaded. Kimberly Lohre (Fr. • Glenview, Ill.) took the loss after two innings with three earned runs, while Sweeney started and allowed three ER in five frames.

Cornell took advantage of Schoon’s 3-for-3 game at the plate. Jill Trzaska fired all seven innings for the win, yielding four ER on eight hits and six walks.

UW-Oshkosh’s best chance to score against the Gusties was when it had runners on second and third base with nobody out during the third. The Titans struck out and grounded out twice to keep it a 0-0 ballgame.

Gustavus Adolphus posted two singles in the third, but Courtney Wautier (Jr. • Brussels) kept the tie intact. Wautier surrendered just three hits in her six frames for the no-decision.

During the eighth, the Titans reached third base with no outs. Kate Rentschler retired the next three batters to send her teammates back to the plate. Following a single by Brittany Brenke, Morgan ripped a hit to right field that ended the contest.

Sweeney accepted the loss, giving up one unearned run in one frame. Rentschler threw all eight innings and struck out three for the win.

UW-Oshkosh stays in Moline for games against Wartburg College (Iowa) and Augustana College (Ill.) on Sunday (April 1).

UW-Oshkosh’s Nila Gruenewald, Ronessa Stampfli, Whitney Tornow and Jamie Ziegel received spots on the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Softball All-Time Team. The league rewarded 20 outstanding players for its centennial anniversary celebration.

Gruenewald (1982-85) was the first All-American in program history during 1985, when she pitched 244 of the team’s 257 innings. She finished with a 25-9 record, 177 strikeouts and a 1.00 earned run average. The Titans captured WIAC championships during both 1984 and 1985. Gruenewald (Bonduel • Bonduel High School) concluded her 80-game career with 26 shutouts and 403 strikeouts.

A four-time WIAC Pitcher of the Year, Stampfli (2005-08) won 75 games and struck out a WIAC-record 1,019 batters. After setting the league record with 294 K in 2006, Stampfli (Brodhead • Brodhead High School) posted a 0.87 ERA in 2007. She was named a NCAA Division III All-American in 2007 as UW-Oshkosh won the conference title with a 36-11 record.

Tornow (2007-10) is the only Titan with two All-America selections. She was part of the 2007 WIAC title, which was the school’s first in 15 years. Tornow (OF) received 2009 WIAC Player of the Year after hitting .482 with 12 home runs. During the 2010 campaign, she broke her own record with a .500 batting average. Tornow (Neenah • Neenah High School) finished as UW-Oshkosh’s all-time leader in homers (31), RBI (146), runs scored (122), walks (89) and stolen bases (28). She ranks second in the WIAC in career slugging percentage at .777.

Ziegel (1984, 86-88) helped the Titans to their first NCAA Tournament in 1984. The catcher was named a 1987 All-American after becoming the first UW-Oshkosh player to hit .400. Ziegel (Wausau • Wausau West High School) ended her career with a .357 batting average, 168 hits, 104 RBI and 15 triples.

UW-Eau Claire owned five players on the all-time team with Heidi Bergstrom (1997-2000), Casey Leisgang (2005-08), Mallory McKinney (2004-07), Jill Schoenike (1996-99) and Lisa Schueler (1997-2000). The other school with at least three members was UW-Whitewater, which placed Amy Gahl (2006-09), Valerie Kerkman (1996-99) and Jessica Stang (2008-11) on the squad.

The rest of the all-time team featured Kelly Rutta (1998-2001) and Dana Zajdel (1995-98) of UW-Stevens Point, Suzanne Brion (1994-96) and Erin O’Connell (2002-05) of UW-Stout, Erin Kegley (2003-07) and Sarah Tarasewicz (2002-05) of UW-Superior, Jenna Ahnen (2008-11) of UW-La Crosse and Emily Howlett (2006-08) of UW-River Falls.

UW-Eau Claire’s Leslie Huntington (2002-present) and UW-Whitewater’s Brenda Volk (1999-present) were named the WIAC’s all-time coaches.

The WIAC is recognizing the outstanding individuals from the league's 100-year history. All-time teams are being selected in those men's and women's sports that have been classified as "championship" sports at some point since 1913. Additional teams will be released on a weekly basis throughout much of the 2011-12 academic year.

All-time team members will receive certificates from the conference and it is hoped that most, if not all, of the recipients will be in attendance or represented at the WIAC Centennial Banquet in Madison on Aug. 4, 2012.

More information on the activities and events associated with the WIAC Centennial is available at www.wiacsports.com.

Kassie Krueger (So. • Plover) posted her second walk-off hit of the week as UW-Oshkosh earned softball wins over Hendrix College (Ark.) and St. Olaf College (Minn.) on Friday (March 23) in Fort Myers, Fla.

The Titans (10-4) used Krueger’s eighth-inning single to defeat Hendrix, 3-2. Julie Sweeney (Fr. • Arlington Heights, Ill.) then opened with five no-hit innings for a 4-2 decision over St. Olaf (8-6). UW-Oshkosh ended its Florida trip with an 8-2 record.

During game one, the Warriors (8-7) scored on a stolen base attempt and double play to go ahead, 2-0. The Titans answered in the fourth frame with a Hayley Freimuth (Sr. • Combined Locks) sacrifice fly. Tess Fadness (So. • Eau Claire) later tripled in a run during the fifth to tie the game.

Courtney Wautier (Jr. • Brussels) didn’t allow a hit over the final three innings to shut down the Warriors. In the bottom of the eighth, Krueger ripped her single up the middle with one out to score Julia Burns (Sr. • Verona).

Both pitchers threw a complete game, with Wautier tossing eight frames of four-hit ball with one earned run. Lauren Whitby surrendered three runs (one earned) on eight hits.

The two squads combined for just five hits in the nightcap. UW-Oshkosh did all its damage in the second inning with four runs on three hits and three St. Olaf errors. Krueger knocked in the first two Titans with a single to left. It then became a 4-0 margin after a fielding miscue and Kelley Koebler’s (Sr. • Janesville) run-scoring bunt.

In the sixth, the Oles began with a hit batter, single, double steal and walk. A wild pitch allowed Julie Fergus to score. Christiania Miller tacked on a RBI single to make it 4-2 before UW-Oshkosh nailed a runner at the plate to end the threat.

Sweeney got the victory, going 5.1 innings with two runs allowed. Wautier tossed a perfect final frame to obtain the save. For St. Olaf, Jessica Green (loss) pitched all six innings while walking three and striking out four.

The Titans’ remaining hits were second-inning singles by Sweeney and Katie Koepsel (Fr. • Oak Creek). Maggie Scholer booked one of the Oles’ two singles.

UW-Oshkosh heads to Moline, Ill. for games with Cornell College (Iowa) and Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) on Saturday (March 31).

Elizabeth Greatens (So. • Green Bay) and Demi Kastein (So. • Waupun) combined for a three-hit shutout during UW-Oshkosh’s 7-0 victory over Smith College (Mass.) on Thursday (March 22) in Cape Coral, Fla. The Titans (8-4) also suffered a 4-3 extra-inning loss to undefeated Amherst College (Mass.).

Against the Pioneers, Tess Fadness (So. • Eau Claire) doubled in the first inning and stole home. UW-Oshkosh then tallied three times during the third, including Julia Burns’ (Sr. • Verona) two-run single.

A two-run hit from Hillary Trebiatowski (Jr. • Plover) upped the lead to 6-0 in the sixth frame. Smith College (1-6) never really got on track, and it failed to score after notching two singles during the fourth.

Kastein (win) allowed just two hits over five innings before Greatens retired six of the seven batters she faced. The loss fell on Kayla Kiers, who surrendered four runs in three frames. Tessa Clark fired the last four innings for the Pioneers, yielding one earned run on three hits and three walks.

UW-Oshkosh started strong with two second-inning runs against Amherst (10-0). The Titans used a sacrifice fly from Hayley Freimuth (Sr. • Combined Locks) and a two-out RBI single by Emily Mallek (Fr. • Plover).

The Jeffs marked single runs in the second and seventh innings to pull even. Theresa Kelley posted a run-scoring single to pull within 2-1. Down to its final out, Amherst capitalized on a Titan error in the seventh frame to tie the contest.

Kassie Krueger (So. • Plover) booked a run-scoring single in UW-Oshkosh’s next turn to go back in front. Amherst had another response, as Donna Leet ripped a RBI double to equal the score. Reilly Horan came up next and delivered a single to take the walk-off win.

Both Kelley (win) and Arielle Doering threw four innings and allowed two hits for the Jeffs. Julie Sweeney (Fr. • Arlington Heights, Ill.) suffered the complete-game loss despite striking out 10 with one earned run over seven frames.

UW-Oshkosh has two more contests Friday (March 23) in Florida before returning to the Midwest.

Katie Koepsel (Fr. • Oak Creek) went 5-for-5 at the plate during UW-Oshkosh’s softball wins over Worcester State University (Mass.) and St. Olaf College (Minn.) on Wednesday (March 21) in Fort Myers, Fla.

After trailing 6-2, the Titans (7-3) rallied for a 7-6 victory against the Lancers (2-5). Courtney Wautier (Jr. • Brussels) then fired a shutout with nine strikeouts to defeat St. Olaf, 8-0.

UW-Oshkosh gained a 2-0 lead on Demi Kastein’s (So. • Waupun) second-inning single against Worcester. The Lancers responded with six hits during the third frame, including a two-run single by Carolyn Hassett, to take the 6-2 advantage.

Scoring in their final five at-bats, the Titans marked twice in the third inning and once during the fourth, fifth and sixth. A Hillary Trebiatowski (Jr. • Plover) single plated the first two runs, while Megan Cherney (Fr. • Junction City) tied the game with a fifth-inning hit. During the sixth, Emily Miskoski (Fr. • Stevens Point) singled, stole second base and marked the winning run on Kimberly Lohre’s (Fr. • Glenview, Ill.) single.

Kastein started for UW-Oshkosh and allowed six runs over 2.2 innings. Julie Sweeney (Fr. • Arlington Heights, Ill.) then came in and got the victory with six strikeouts and just one hit allowed over 4.1 frames. The Lancers’ Hannah Everson (loss) was charged with six earned runs and 12 hits in six innings.

Against St. Olaf, the Titans scored twice in each of the second, third, fifth and sixth frames. Kelley Koebler (Sr. • Janesville) got things started with a two-run single. The margin increased to 6-0 following run-scoring hits by Koepsel and Trebiatowski.

Two singles and a walk helped UW-Oshkosh end the contest in the sixth inning. Koepsel delivered a two-run double to center that obtained the eight-run advantage.

Wautier, who tossed four no-hit innings on March 18, allowed four hits with no walks in six frames. The loss fell on Amy Prok after she surrendered three earned runs over five innings.

UW-Oshkosh has won six of its last seven games and will play another doubleheader in Florida on Thursday (March 22).

UW-Oshkosh batters hit three consecutive homers while its pitchers hurled a no-hitter during a 13-0 victory over St. Joseph’s College (N.Y.) on Sunday (March 18) in Cape Coral, Fla. The Titans (4-2) also registered a 7-6 win over Hamilton College (N.Y.) in their second game of the day.

During the second inning against St. Joseph’s, UW-Oshkosh took a 1-0 lead on Kaelyn Hogan’s (Jr. • Greendale) single. After two more runs scored on errors, Tess Fadness (So. • Eau Claire) blasted a two-run shot to right field. Katie Koepsel (Fr. • Oak Creek) and Julia Burns (Sr. • Verona) followed with round-trippers of their own to stretch the margin to 7-0.

Fadness connected for a three-run bomb in the third frame before the Titans got a trio of run-scoring singles during the fourth to conclude the outburst.

The Lady Bears (0-5) had just one runner reach base, when Cassandra Molinari walked in the fourth inning. Courtney Wautier (Jr. • Brussels) fired the opening four frames for the victory, while Kimberly Lohre (Fr. • Glenview, Ill.) tossed a perfect final frame for UW-Oshkosh’s first no-hitter since 2007.

Lisa Scheer pitched all four innings for St. Joseph’s, allowing 17 hits and five earned runs.

In the nightcap, Hamilton College (4-6) captured a 2-0 lead during the second frame. Amy Appel pounded a sacrifice fly and Jenn Rougeux marked a RBI single. The Titans cut their deficit in half when Julia Burns (Sr. • Verona) singled and reached home on a fourth-inning error.

Kelley Koebler (Sr. • Janesville) drew a walk and stole third base to begin the fifth. Fadness again came up clutch, hitting a two-run double to go in front. Another Hamilton fielding miscue made it a 4-2 ballgame.

UW-Oshkosh appeared to gain some breathing room when Lohre crushed a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth. During the seventh inning, three straight Continentals walked to load the bases for Sam Miller. She found the sweet spot of the bat and launched a grand slam over the fence to tie contest at 6.

A leadoff walk from Fadness and a single by Burns got the Titans going in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, Kassie Krueger (So. • Plover) delivered a single to score Fadness and end the game.

Wautier recorded her second victory of the day after allowing one run in the seventh inning. Demi Kastein (So. • Waupun) started for the Titans and yielded two unearned runs in four frames, while Julie Sweeney (Fr. • Arlington Heights, Ill.) tossed two innings of relief and surrendered three runs. Ashley Perritt (loss) pitched all 6.2 frames and gave up five earned runs on nine hits.

UW-Oshkosh faces two East-coast schools on Monday (March 19) in Fort Myers, Fla.

The UW-Oshkosh women's softball team is projected to finish fifth in the race for the 2012 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship, according to a preseason poll conducted by the league's nine sports information directors.

Defending champion UW-River Falls is the preseason favorite after winning last year's title with a 13-3 record. The Falcons collected four first-place votes in the survey.

Expected to follow UW-River Falls in the standings are second-place UW-Whitewater, third-place UW-Eau Claire, fourth-place UW-La Crosse and fifth-place UW-Oshkosh. UW-Whitewater, ranked 12th in the NCAA Division III by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, received two first-place votes, while UW-Eau Claire acquired one. UW-Eau Claire is currently the 15th-ranked team in the country.

The rest of the predictions have UW-Superior finishing sixth, UW-Stevens Point seventh, UW-Platteville eighth and UW-Stout ninth. UW-Superior and UW-Stevens Point each claimed one first-place vote.

UW-Oshkosh ended the 2011 season with a 21-17 record, including a sixth-place mark of 6-10 in the WIAC. The Titans have won at least 20 contests in each of the past eight seasons, including 36 in 2007 and 32 in 2008.

UW-Oshkosh opens its WIAC schedule with a doubleheader at UW-Whitewater on April 11.

After being shutout by Simpson College (Iowa) in the opener, UW-Oshkosh battled back to defeat The College of St. Scholastica (Minn.) and earn a split of its two women's softball games played Sunday (Feb. 26) in Marquette, Mich.

Simpson College (3-2) scored three runs in both the fourth and sixth innings to defeat UW-Oshkosh, 6-0. The Titans (2-2) then jumped out to a 5-0 lead and held on to oust The College of St. Scholastica, 5-3.

In the first game, Simpson College pitcher Kacee Arey struck out 10 batters and allowed just a fourth-inning single to UW-Oshkosh's Tess Fadness (So. • Eau Claire).

Simpson College built a 3-0 lead on singles by Kylie Van Houten and Chelsea Winegard in the fourth inning. The Storm tallied three more runs in the sixth inning, including two on run-scoring doubles by Veronica Roshek and Hailey Jensen.

Simpson College compiled nine hits as Jensen and Roshek tallied two each. Carissa Coopman added a double in the second inning.

UW-Oshkosh had three pitchers see action, including starter Demi Kastein (So. • Waupun) who took the loss after yielding one run and two hits in three innings of work. She was replaced by Julie Sweeney (Fr. • Arlington Heights, Ill.) in the fourth inning and Elizabeth Greatens (So. • Green Bay) in the sixth.

Against The College of St. Scholastica (0-3), UW-Oshkosh steadily pulled away. The Titans took a 1-0 lead on Hayley Freimuth's (Sr. • Combined Locks) single in the second inning and increased their advantage to 3-0 with two unearned runs in the third.

UW-Oshkosh closed its scoring with two runs in the fourth inning. Freimuth led off the inning with a triple and pinch-runner Stephanie Miller (So. • Slinger) scored moments later courtesy of a passed ball. Following a ground out, pinch-hitter Kimberly Lohre (Fr. • Glenview, Ill.) put the Titans ahead 5-0 with a solo home run.

The Saints were held quiet until they scored three runs on an infield ground out by Jordan Spiering and singles by Emily Schiro and Barb Malyuk in the bottom of the seventh inning. The College of St. Scholastica had the bases loaded when UW-Oshkosh pitcher Courtney Wautier (Jr. • Brussels) struck out Allison Spiering to end the game.

UW-Oshkosh totaled seven hits, including two each by Freimuth, Lohre and Emily Mallek (Fr. • Plover). The College of St. Scholastica had six players register one hit each.

Wautier recorded the complete-game pitching victory after striking out 11 batters and allowing just one earned run. Darcy Roach took the complete-game loss for the Saints after striking out 10 batters and yielding three earned runs.

UW-Oshkosh is off until it plays New York schools St. Joseph's College and Hamilton College in games on March 18 in Cape Coral, Fla.

Katie Koepsel (Fr. • Oak Creek) homered in each contest as the UW-Oshkosh women's softball team opened the 2012 season with mixed results on Saturday (Feb. 25) in Marquette, Mich.

UW-Oshkosh posted a 3-1 victory over Hope College (Mich.) in the opener before suffering a 4-2 loss to Carthage College in the nightcap.

The Titans (1-1) started the season in exciting fashion as Julia Burns (Sr. • Verona) blasted a two-run home run in the first inning of their game with Hope College (0-4). Burns drove in Tess Fadness (So. • Eau Claire), who belted a two-out double in the preceding at-bat.

UW-Oshkosh extended its lead to 3-0 on Koepsel's lead-off home run in the fourth inning. Her smash chased Hope College pitching starter Olivia Vacik from the contest.

Hope College went without a run in the bottom half of the fourth inning after loading the bases. UW-Oshkosh starting pitcher Courtney Wautier (Jr. • Brussels) allowed singles to Stephanie Faber and Jess Kohlhoff in the inning, but retired Kelsey Cooper on a fly out to end the frame.

The game remained quiet until the Hope College seventh inning. The Flying Dutch tallied four singles in the inning, including a two-out, run-scoring hit by Brooke Nienhuis. Wautier ended the threat by getting Laura Tjepkema to pop out with runners on first and second base.

UW-Oshkosh had five players record one hit. Wautier earned the complete-game pitching victory after allowing seven hits and striking out five batters.

Hope College's seven hits included two by Faber. The Flying Dutch had three players take to the mound, including Vacik who yielded four hits and all three runs during her three innings of work.

In the second game, Carthage College (4-0) took a 1-0 lead over UW-Oshkosh on Alyssa Schrader's run-scoring single in the first inning.

The Titans went ahead 2-1 in the second inning on back-to-back home runs by Koepsel and Julie Sweeney (Fr. • Arlington Heights, Ill.). Carthage College then tied the score, 2-2, on a run-scoring single by Katie Morman in the fifth inning.

The Lady Reds broke the deadlock when pinch-hitter Amy Slattery smacked a one-out, two-run home run off Wautier in the sixth inning. Wautier entered the game as a replacement for Sweeney in the fifth inning.

UW-Oshkosh had seven players tally one hit each, with Burns also adding a double. Carthage College totaled seven hits, including three by Morman and the home run by Slattery.

Sweeney pitched the first 4.2 innings for UW-Oshkosh and allowed four hits and two runs. Wautier hurled the final 2.1 innings and yielded two runs and three hits.

The pitching win went to the Lady Reds' Krystina Leazer, who worked the final four innings and blanked UW-Oshkosh on three hits. Leazer compiled eight strikeouts. Alyssa Sirocchi went the first three innings for Carthage College and allowed two runs and four hits.

UW-Oshkosh takes to the diamond against Simpson College (Iowa) and The College of St. Scholastica (Minn.) on Sunday (Feb. 26) in Marquette, Mich.

UW-Oshkosh hunts for its ninth straight 20-win season when it begins the 2012 women's softball campaign on Saturday (Feb. 25) at the Superior Dome in Marquette, Mich.

The Titans will face Hope College (Mich.) at 8 a.m. (ET) and Carthage College at noon (ET) on Feb. 25. Hope College finished last season with a 25-15-1 record, while Carthage College went 23-17.

Simpson College (Iowa) and The College of St. Scholastica (Minn.) will be UW-Oshkosh’s opponents on Sunday (Feb. 26). The College of St. Scholastica is coming off a 29-15 season, while Simpson College went 24-18. UW-Oshkosh and Simpson College split a pair of one-run contests the past two seasons.

The Titans return five starting position players and three pitchers from 2011. Courtney Wautier (Jr. • Brussels) received All-WIAC honorable mention recognition last year after posting a 2.61 earned run average with 101 strikeouts in 139.2 innings pitched.

A starter in all 38 games last season, infielder Tess Fadness (So. • Eau Claire) batted .333 with eight doubles and a team-high three home runs. Outfielder Julia Burns (Sr. • Verona) is also back after compiling a .301 average with nine doubles and 24 runs batted in.

UW-Oshkosh welcomes a pair of transfers in infielder Kassie Krueger (So. • Plover) and catcher Hillary Trebiatowski (Jr. • Plover). Krueger played in 18 games for UW-Whitewater last year and hit .313. At Cardinal Stritch University, Trebiatowski compiled a .361 batting average with seven home runs and 49 runs batted in over the past two seasons.

The UW-Oshkosh women's softball team will hold a mandatory informational meeting for all new and returning players on Wednesday, Sept. 7 in room 135 of Kolf Sports Center. The meeting begins at 9 p.m.

All candidates for the 2012 team should bring their Titan ID card to the meeting. New players must have all of their athletic training information completed, which includes a health history questionnaire, a physical exam and health insurance form. Athletic training information can be found at www.uwosh.edu/athletic_training/newathletes.php.

All athletic training information and a copy your insurance card (front and back) should also be brought to the meeting.

For more information, contact UW-Oshkosh head women's softball coach Cindy Suess at (920) 424-3236 or by e-mail at suessc@uwosh.edu.