University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Athletics

OSHKOSH, Wis.- Eventual league postseason champion UW-Stevens Point slipped past UW-Oshkosh, 2-1, in a contest that featured just four total hits during the semifinal round of the WIAC Softball Tournament (presented by Culver's) on Saturday (May 9) at Mary Beth Nienhaus Softball Complex.
 
No. 5 seed Stevens Point (30-13) went on to defeat No. 2 seed UW-Platteville (24-15), 5-2, to secure the WIAC's automatic berth into the 64-team NCAA Division III Championship that commences with four-team, double elimination regionals May 14-16.
 
Despite the semifinal setback at the single-elimination WIAC Tournament, No. 1 seed and WIAC regular season champion Oshkosh (30-8-1) is expected to join Stevens Point in the NCAA field, which will be revealed via on online bracket show at 10 a.m. Monday (May 11). The Titans, ranked 14th in the nation by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and seeking to earn one of 22 at-large berths into the national postseason, will be making their fourth consecutive and 13th overall Division III Championship appearance.
 
Stevens Point outhit Oshkosh, 3-1, and scored the decisive, unearned run on a bunt with one out in the top of the fourth inning for a 2-0 advantage.
 
The Pointers opened the scoring with a run on a throwing error during the fourth frame.
 
Stevens Point starting pitcher Kodi Rizzo lost her bid for a perfect game when Sarah Hammerton (Appleton/Appleton West) drew a leadoff walk in the home half of the sixth inning. The Titans later broke up Rizzo's no-hitter and shutout on Olivia Ullman's (Denmark/Denmark) single that plated Hammerton with two outs during the sixth frame.
 
Rizzo (11-1), whose only loss this season was at Oshkosh on April 30, set down the Titans in order during the seventh inning to secure the complete game victory. She allowed one run on one hit and a walk while striking out eight.
 
Titans starting pitcher Kiran Sanford (Two Rivers/Mishicot) (16-3) was charged with the loss after limiting the Pointers to two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks with five strikeouts across the first four frames.
 
Oshkosh relief pitcher Brianna Bougie (Oshkosh/Oshkosh West) tossed the final three innings in hitless fashion while striking out one.
 
The conference postseason title was Stevens Point's third overall and first since 2001. Oshkosh, last year's WIAC Tournament winner, was seeking to become the league's first back-to-back postseason champion since UW-Whitewater won the title every year from 2013-18.