CLERMONT, Fla.- UW-Oshkosh's softball's comeback attempt fell short during the first game of the day as the Titans suffered a pair of setbacks Sunday (March 22) in Clermont, Fla.
 
Oshkosh (9-3), ranked 13th in the NCAA Division III by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, lost by scores of 5-4 to Colby College (Maine) and 3-0 against Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
 
Brianne Lopez (Volo, Ill./Grant Community) accounted for a team-leading three of the Titans' eight hits on the day.
 
In the first contest, Oshkosh scored three runs during the top of the first inning, but Colby (6-1) responded with three runs of its own in the bottom half of the frame.
 
The Mules claimed the lead for good with a two-run fifth inning. The Titans scored a run in the top of the seventh frame to cut their deficit to 5-4. However, Colby secured the victory by keeping the potential tying run in the batter's box.
 
Lopez, Emma Bohn (Rosendale/Laconia) and Morgan Miller (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg) each drove in runs during Oshkosh's three-run first inning. Haylie Wittman (Kaukauna/Kaukauna) later crossed the plate on a passed ball in the seventh frame.
 
Colby's decisive two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning were both unearned as Oshkosh committed a pair of errors during the frame.
 
Carissa Cassidy went 3-for-4 to pace the Mules, who outhit the Titans, 6-5.
 
Lopez was 2-for-3 with a double for Oshkosh.
 
Sharlotte Stazinski (1-0) earned the complete-game win for the Mules, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk with three strikeouts.
 
Brianna Bougie (Oshkosh/Oshkosh West) (2-2) was charged with the loss in relief for Oshkosh despite limiting the Mules to two unearned runs on four hits across the final five innings. She collected a season-high seven strikeouts without issuing a walk.
 
During the second contest, MIT (9-1) scored twice in the second inning and once in the third frame as the Engineers outhit Oshkosh, 9-3.
 
Engineers starting pitcher Sarah Blackett (5-0) went the distance in the pitcher's circle, limiting the Titans to just three hits – an Olivia Ullman (Denmark/Denmark) leadoff single in the first inning, a Lopez two-out single during the fourth frame and a two-out Ullman double in the fifth – to go along with a pair of walks with seven strikeouts.
 
Delaney Benevides, Holland Poe, Lauren Sundquist and Layla Thiessen each had two of the Engineers' nine hits.
 
Kiran Sanford (Two Rivers/Mishicot) (5-1) suffered the loss after yielding three runs on seven hits over the first four innings. She struck out five without issuing a walk.
 
Bougie tossed three scoreless frames in relief of Sanford, allowing just two baserunners – both via singles – while striking out two.
 
The Titans remain in Clermont on Monday (March 23) to face St. Lawrence University (N.Y.) at 11:15 a.m. and Augustana College (Ill.) at 1:30 p.m. (CDT).