University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Athletics

JACKSON, Miss.- Belhaven University (Miss.) scored three times in the bottom of the first inning and defeated UW-Oshkosh, 5-1, during the first game of the NCAA Division III Championship Jackson, Miss. Super Regional on Thursday (May 21) at Belhaven's McLeod Field.
 
Belhaven (41-10), ranked eighth in the country by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, needs to win one more game over 15th-ranked Oshkosh (33-9-1) during the best-of-three series to clinch a berth in the eight-team World Series that commences May 28 in Salem, Va.
 
The Jackson Super Regional continues with Game 2 at 1 p.m. Friday (May 22). A second championship game, if necessary, would be contested at 3:30 p.m. if Oshkosh prevails during Game 2.
 
The first three Belhaven batters of the game reached base safely on a single, double and walk to load the bases. The Blazers plated all three baserunners via a pair of sacrifice flies and a throwing error.
 
The Blazers extended their lead to 4-0 in the home half of the fifth frame as Ellie Williamson delivered a two-out single to bring home Maddie Bruner.
 
Oshkosh was held hitless until Brianne Lopez (Volo, Ill./Grant Community) laced a single to left field in the top of the fourth inning.
 
The Titans later broke up the shutout in the sixth frame as Morgan Miller (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg) led off with a single, advanced to second base on an Olivia Baugnet (De Pere/De Pere) sacrifice bunt and scored on Sarah Hammerton's (Appleton/Appleton West) single to left field with two outs. Trailing 4-1, Oshkosh eventually brought the potential tying run to the plate following an Olivia Ullman (Denmark/Denmark) hit, but Blazers starting pitcher Macy Funderburk thwarted the rally with a strikeout.
 
Belhaven tacked on an insurance run during the bottom of the sixth inning as Liberty Gillihan's double scored Melissa Lopera to create the final score.
 
Funderburk (19-5) went the distance in the Belhaven pitcher's circle, limiting the Titans to one run on four hits. She struck out four without issuing a walk.
 
Belhaven outhit the Titans, 8-4, and struck out just once. Three Blazers doubles accounted for all of the game's extra-base hits. Belhaven entered the super regional round leading the division in doubles while batting .350 on the year and scoring 7.2 runs per contest.
 
Williamson went 2-for-2 with a pair of runs batted in to lead the Blazers, who also received two hits from Bruner.
 
Titans starting pitcher Kiran Sanford (Two Rivers/Mishicot) (16-4) was charged with the loss, yielding four runs (three earned) on five hits and one walk across 4.1 innings.
 
Brianna Bougie (Oshkosh/Oshkosh West) relieved Sanford and held the Blazers to one run on three hits over the final 1.2 frames. She walked one and struck out one.
 
Oshkosh headed into super regionals third nationally with a 1.39 ERA. The Titans surrendered as many as five runs for the first time since a 5-0 setback to UW-La Crosse on April 17.
 
The Titans are seeking to clinch a super regional title with two road wins on the final day for the second time in three years. Oshkosh accomplished the feat at reigning Division III champion Trine University (Ind.) in 2024.