La Crosse, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse softball team fell 8-3 to UW-Oshkosh Sunday in the championship game of the NCAA III La Crosse, Wisconsin Regional at North Campus Field. 

The Eagles finish the season with a record of 30-16, while the Titans improve to 33-11, and move on to face Trine University (Ind.) in the NCAA Super-Regional's next weekend. 

UWL took an early lead in the top of the first inning.  Sydney Murphy doubled to open the game, followed by back-to-back walks to Brittany Baldwin and Grace Mindrup to load the bases.  Ashley Lindstrom singled up the middle to drive in two, giving the Eagles the 2-0 lead.

UW-Oshkosh answered in the bottom of the first with four runs on five hits.  Emma Fionda walked to open the frame, followed by a Natalie Dudek double, moving Fionda to third.  She scored on an Abby Menting sacrifice fly to center to make it 2-1.  Dudek advanced to third on a wild pitch, and then scored on a Kaitlyn Krol single to right, tying the score at 2-2.  Krol moved to second on a balk, and then with two outs, and runners on the corners, Amanda McIlhany singled to left, driving in Krol, making it 3-2.  Erika Berry scored on a Natalie Dillon single two batters later, and the Titans led 4-2 after one inning.
 
UW-Oshkosh added four more runs in the bottom of the third.  The Titans had five hits in the frame, including three doubles and a two RBI triple from Dudek, and led 8-2 after three complete.
 
UWL got a run in the top of the sixth, on a two-out Brittany Baldwin RBI single down the right field line to make it 8-3.  Jenny Gallagher, who scored from second on the play, had singled earlier in the inning.
 
Jessie Carignan (13-6) took the loss for UWL, allowing four runs on five hits in 1.0 inning.  Caitlyn Hughes gave four runs on five hits in 1.2 innings, and Katie Klein pitched 3.1 innings of scoreless relief, giving up two hits.
 
Murphy went 2-for-3 for UWL with a double and a run scored while Brittany Baldwin went 2-for-3 with a RBI and a run scored.

Sara Brunlieb (14-5) picked up the win for UW-Oshkosh, who came on in relief in the first inning for starter Bailey Smaney.  Brunlieb went 7.0 innings, giving up a run on seven hits.  She was named the Most Outstanding Player at the La Crosse, Wisconsin Regional. 

Dillon went 3-for-3 with a double, two RBI, and a run scored, while Dudek drove in two and had a double and a triple.
 
UWL's Carignen, Klein, Mindrup, and Murphy were named to the La Crosse, Wisconsin Regional All-Tournament Team. 

Berry, Brunlieb, Dillon, Dudek, and Krol were All-Tournament selections for UW-Oshkosh, along with Holly Haberkorn of Benedictine University (Ill.).     

Coach Helixon postgame interview
UWL players postgame interview