OSHKOSH - The UW-Eau Claire softball team dropped back down to .500 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) today after getting swept 3-0 and 1-0 by No. 14 UW-Oshkosh at the Oshkosh Sports Complex.

The loss drops the Blugolds to 23-11 overall and to 6-6 in the WIAC. The Titans improve to 24-6 overall and remain in first place in the conference with an 11-1 record. This marks just the third occasion all-time and the second instance this season that the Blugolds were held scoreless in a WIAC doubleheader. The win by the Titans snaps a three-game losing streak to the Blugolds. The Blugolds streak of three consecutive conference regular season titles will come to an end.

In game one Blugolds pitcher Mallory McKinney (Sr.-Brooklyn Park, MN/Champlin Park) broke the school record with her 109th career appearance. The record was previously held by Heidi Bergstrom from 1997-2000. The Eau Claire offense however would not give her much support as they only could manage two hits in the game. They would not get a hit after the third inning. The Blugolds would not get a base runner past second base.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fifth when with two outs Whitney Tyriver hit an infield single that scored Sarah LeMahieu from third to make the score 1-0. The Titans added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth on a Lyndsey Allen two run home run to left field to make the final score 3-0 Oshkosh.

McKinney (9-7) allowed 10 hits and struck out three in six innings of work. Jill Janke (Jr.-Black River Falls, WI) and Stephanie Salter (Sr.-Schofield, WI/D.C. Everest) had the two hits for the Blugolds.

Eau Claire would only manage three hits in game two. The Blugolds also did not help itself defensively committing four errors. Casey Leisgang (Jr.-Seymour, WI) reached base in the first inning but would be left stranded at third. Oshkosh's lone run would come on a Blugold error as with two outs and the bases loaded Eau Claire would commit an error trying to get the force out at second that would allow Brianna Bilotti to score from third.

Eau Claire threatened in the top of the seventh inning. Michelle Butkus (Jr.-Medford, WI) led off the inning with a walk. Butkus was then pinch ran for by Katie Stalker (Fr.-Madison, WI/La Follette). After a sacrifice moved Stalker to second, she would advance to third after a wild pitch. However, the Blugolds would groundout to end the game as the Titans hung on to win their 11th straight game 1-0.

Bri Sturm (So.-Zumbrota, MN/Zumbrota-Mazeppa) picked up the loss snapping a personal six-game winning streak. Sturm (12-4) scattered five hits in the loss. Leisgang, Shannon Barone (Sr.-De Pere, WI), and Stephanie Salter had the hits for Eau Claire.

The Blugolds return home for their final two conference doubleheaders this weekend, as they will host UW-La Crosse tomorrow and UW-Platteville on Sunday. It will be Alumni/Parents Day at the ballpark tomorrow. The first game is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. at Gelein Field in Carson Park.

Eau Claire-Oshkosh Game 1 Box Score

Eau Claire-Oshkosh Game 2 Box Score

- JR -