Oshkosh, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse softball team opened Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play Saturday with a pair of one-run losses at UW-Oshkosh Saturday afternoon, falling 5-4 and 6-5. The Eagles fall to 12-14 overall and 0-2 in the WIAC while the Titans improve to 22-0 overall and 2-0 in the conference.

UW-Oshkosh is ranked 23rd on National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Poll.

UWL scored three runs in the top of the first in Saturday's opener. Cristin Casey tripled with one out and scored on a Kyra Lard single for the first run of the game. After a strikeout, Abbey Bosch's two-run home run made it 3-0.

The Eagles added to their lead in the top of the third on Lard's solo home run for a 4-0 lead.

UW-Oshkosh cut it to 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning. Sarah Hammerton led-off with a single and went to second on Cali Divito's sacrifice bunt. Hannah Ritter followed with a single advancing Hammerton to third. Sophie Wery's RBI ground out scored Hammerton with the Titans' first run. Haylie Wittman followed with a two-run home run to make it a one-run game.

The score remained 4-3 until the bottom of the seventh. Ritter led off the inning with a double and replaced by pinch-runner Abby Freismuth. Wery had an infield single and Wittman's single to left field scored Freismuth with the tying run. Morgan Rau was hit-by-pitch to load the bases. After a fielder's choice recorded an out at the home, Wittman came in with the winning run on a Eagles' throwing error on Zoe Malone's fielder's choice.

UWL finished with seven hits in the opener with Lard going 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBI. Casey went 2-for-3 with one run while Bosch had two RBI. Carmen Follette (0-3) suffered the loss, pitching 1.0 inning, allowing three hits and two runs (one earned) with two strikeouts. Elise Weinzierl went 5.1 innings, allowing seven hits and three runs while striking out four.

UW-Oshkosh totaled 10 hits as Ritter finished 3-for-3 and Wittman 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBI.

In the nightcap, UW-Oshkosh scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Rau and Ritter singled to start the inning and came into score on Wittman's three-run home run. Wery followed with a solo home run. 

UWL cut it to 4-1 in the top of the fifth. Nicole Zoellner led-off with a single and replaced by pinch-runner Joette Kassa, who went to second on a throwing error. Kassa advanced to third on a ground out and scored on Marissa Pease's RBI single to get the Eagles on the board.

The Titans extended their lead to 6-1 in the bottom of the inning. Wittman had an RBI double and Wery a sacrifice fly. The Eagles made it 6-2 in the top of the sixth after Jordyn McCormack doubled, Abbey Bosch singled to advance McCormack to third and Zoellner knocked in McCormack. 

UWL rallied in the top of the seventh. Lindsay Steien reached on an error to open the inning and went to second on Brooke Howard's single. Casey's infield single loaded the bases. Lard drew a bases-loaded walk to cut the lead to 6-3. Howard came in on McCormack's RBI ground out to make it 6-4 and Bosch scored Casey with a ground out to cut it to one. Zoellner grounded out to end the game. 

UWL had 11 hits in the nightcap with Howard and McCormack each finishing 3-for-4. Zoellner went 2-for-4. Remington Stark (5-2) suffered the loss, going 3.0 innings, allowing four hits, four runs and one walk and one strikeout.

UW-Oshkosh finished with eight hits. Rau, Ritter and Wittman each ahd two hits with Wittman finishing with four RBI. Freismuth (7-0) picked up the win, pitching 5.1 innings, allowing nine hit and two runs (one earned) with one strikeout. Brianna Bougie earned her fourth save. She pitched 1.2 innings, allowing two hits, three runs (none earned) and one walk while striking out one.
 
 UWL returns to action Monday, April 15 at the University of Dubuque (Iowa) at 2 p.m.