Blue Devils can't stop Titans from taking sweep

UW-Oshkosh 12, UW-Stout 0 (5 inn) | UW-Oshkosh 2, UW-Stout 1 (8 inn)

MENOMONIE (April 30, 2021) - UW-Stout saw a tight second game of a conference doubleheader to UW-Oshkosh slip away in the final innings as the Titans captured the doubleheader sweep with wins of 12-0, 2-1, Friday at Alumni Field.

Sommer Kunstmann put together a solid performance in the circle, working 8.0 innings, and the defense was solid for the first six innings. 

After absorbing a five inning 12-0 first game loss, Stout's (5-20, 0-12 WIAC) defense made a statement early. Left fielder Kelly Beck ran down a deep foul fly ball to record the first out of the game, then snagged a more routine second flyout. Kunstmann forced a routine fly ball to third baseman Kayli Pfeffer and Stout was out of the inning.

Kunstmann was not overpowering - she recorded two strikeouts and those came late in the game - but she did allow the defense to do their job. Oshkosh (17-9, 9-3 WIAC), which moved into first place with the wins, sent no more than four batters to the plate in each of the first five innings. 

 

Stout got on the board first when Shannon Jones lifted a pitch on a 1-2 count over the left field fence to lead off the sixth inning, to greet relief pitcher Maddie Fink, who had recorded the win for the first game.

But Stout's defense faltered in the seventh inning when the Titans' Ana Iliopoulos reached first on an error. Iliopoulos moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and came home two out single to tie the game at 1-1. 

Stout got a runner to second in the bottom of the seventh, but that would be it. Kunstmann gave way to Maddie Kleinschmidt in the top of the eighth, but got into trouble when she hit the first batter, then gave up an RBI double. A second infield error in as many innings and a sharp single through the left side loaded the bases. Kunstmann returned and put the fire out, forcing two fly outs and her second strikeout of the game.

The Blue Devils had an opportunity in the bottom of the eighth. Jessica Christiansen beat out a bunt and, following an out, was moved to second on Kaylee Peterson's sacrifice bunt. But Christiansen was stranded at second and the Titans recorded the 2-1 win.

Kunstmann went 8.0 innings, the longest outing in her four-year career, allowing three hits, one unearned run, walking one and striking out two. Kleinschmidt was saddled with the loss, her first of the season.

Jones was 2 for 4 at the plate. Christiansen and Meghan Kelly each had a hit. The Titans recorded five hits, with Hannah Ritter going 2 for 4, recording two doubles. Fink recorded her second win of the day, working 3.0 innings, allowing two hits, one earned run, while walking one and striking out five. Claire Petrus worked 5.0 innings and struck out five.

In the opener, Oshkosh scored five runs in first inning, sending 10 to the plate in the inning, added a run in the second, five more in the third and a solo home run by Morgan Rau in the fifth. The Titans pounded out 13 hits, to Stout's one. 

The Blue Devils return to action Saturday, May 1 when they host UW-Platteville at 2 p.m. in a non-conference doubleheader.