River Falls, Wis. (uwrfsports.com) –  The UW-River Falls softball team hosted UW-Oshkosh for their Youth Day and Senior Day games on Saturday afternoon. The Falcons honored their lone senior, Ali Murray in between games. The Falcons were defeated by the Titans by scores of 4-2 and 6-1.

THE RUNDOWN GAME 1

Final Score: UW-River Falls 2, UW-Oshkosh 4
Location: Ramer Field, River Falls, Wisconsin
Records: UWRF 11-23 (3-10 WIAC), UW-Oshkosh 26-9 (6-5 WIAC)

WHAT HAPPENED

• UW-Oshkosh scored three quick runs in the top of the first, and the Falcons could not get any runners across the plate until the bottom of the sixth and couldn't quite finish the comeback.
• The first runs of the game for the Titans came across on a passed ball in the top of the first.  
• The Titans next batter then stepped up and hit a home run to straight away center field to increase the lead to 3-0.
• UWRF responded in the bottom of the first inning with a pair of singles, and had the bases loaded with two outs. UW-Oshkosh was able to get out of the inning with a strikeout.
• UW-Oshkosh added another run in the top of the second. The run came in via an RBI double to right center.
• The Falcons scattered three hits over the next three innings, but could not get a runner past second base.
• After a slow start, starting pitcher Payton Speckel settled down and pitched the next three innings while allowing just one hit. She finished with five and one-third innings pitched and four strikeouts.
• In the bottom of the sixth the Falcons were able to get some runs on the board. Starting with a double by Shannan Borchardt to right center. Amber Galloway stepped up next and smacked her fifth home run of the season to cut the lead to 4-2.
• Maddie Studnicka took over for Speckel, and blanked the Titans in the final one and two-third innings. UWRF was unable to get any offense going in the final frame, and lost game one of the doubleheader.

THE RUNDOWN GAME 2

Final Score: UW-River Falls 1, UW-Oshkosh 6
Location: Ramer Field, River Falls, Wisconsin
Records: UWRF 11-24 (3-11 WIAC), UW-Oshkosh 27-9 (7-5 WIAC)

WHAT HAPPENED

• Oshkosh jumped out to a quick lead again in game two. They added back-to-back home runs in the third and took care of the Falcons 6-1 in the final UWRF home game of the 2017 season.
• The game began with a triple for UW-Oshkosh. After a hit-by-pitch, the Titans scored on a single to obtain the 1-0 lead.
• In the bottom of the first the Falcons loaded the bases with two outs, but could not capitalize to tie the game or take the lead.
• Still down 1-0, UWRF had the bases loaded after two walks in the bottom of the second. With the bases loaded for the third time on the day, UWRF could not come up with any runs.
• UW-Oshkosh extended their lead to 4-0 in the top of the third. The back-to-back home runs were to both sides of the park.
• Neither team had more than one hit in a frame until the Titans in the top of the fifth. They hit back-to-back doubles and then a single brought home two more runs to make the score 6-0.
• The Falcons put up their lone run in the bottom of the seventh when Ali Krohn singled the right field, scoring Lexi Dupee.
• Three Falcons pitched in game two, with Payton Speckel taking the loss after pitching three innings. Studnicka and Carolyn Griswold both came in as relief pitchers and combined to allow four hits in four innings.    

  

LOOKING AHEAD
UW-River Falls has concluded WIAC play for the 2017 season, but currently has a doubleheader with Hamline University scheduled for May 2 at 4 p.m. The Falcons will not qualify for the WIAC tournament, and finish with a conference record of 3-11.