(UW-OSHKOSH COMMUNICATIONS) – -Oshkosh’s bid for a return trip to the NCAA Division III Softball World Series came up short as super regional host Belhaven University (Miss.) defeated the Titans, 10-2, during the second game of the best-of-three series Friday (May 22) at McLeod Field in Jackson, Miss.
Belhaven (42-10), ranked eighth in the country by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, clinched a spot at the World Series for the second time and first since finishing as the national runner-up in 2024. The eight-team World Series begins May 28 in Salem, Va.
Fifteenth-ranked Oshkosh (33-10-1), the WIAC regular season and St. Louis Regional champion, was seeking its fourth World Series appearance (1988, 2021, 2024) and second super regional title (2024).
Belhaven, which won its regional at home, swept the Jackson Super Regional, two games to zero. The Blazers also defeated the Titans, 5-1, during the first game of the super regional on Thursday.
The Blazers outhit the Titans, 12-6, in the super regional clincher and owned a 7-0 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. Belhaven’s Macy Funderburk was tabbed the Jackson Super Regional Most Outstanding Pitcher while teammate Liberty Gillihan was selected the series Most Outstanding Position Player.
Gillihan went 2-for-4 Friday with a double, triple, two runs scored and three runs batted in.
Funderburk (20-5) earned the super regional clinching victory, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in 5.1 innings pitched.
Grace Langston, Melissa Lopera and Kaleigh Steverson each added two hits for the Blazers.
Olivia Ullman accounted for two of UW-Oshkosh’s hits. Mary Kate Quaid hit a two-run homer for the Titans in the home half of the sixth frame. Emma Bohn tripled for the Titans’ first extra-base hit of the super regional to lead off the fifth inning.
Oshkosh starting pitcher Grace Nardi (10-2) was charged with the loss after giving up two runs over the first two innings.
Trailing 7-0 with no outs in the home half of the sixth inning and Ullman on first following a single, Quaid deposited an 0-1 pitch well over the wall in left field to pull the Titans within five runs. The home run was Quaid’s team-leading fifth of the season. She also concluded the year pacing the squad with 25 RBIs.
Friday marked the end of the UW-Oshkosh careers of Kendra Baumeister, Skyler Calmes, Autumn Freismuth, Kenzie Longley, Morgan Miller, Josie Rammer and Haylie Wittman. The outgoing senior class helped the Titans to a 153-34-1 record since 2023 with one World Series trip, four consecutive regional appearances, two WIAC regular season titles, and one league postseason championship.
Oshkosh won at least 30 games for the fourth straight year and the ninth time in program history. The Titans extended their WIAC record to 22 consecutive full seasons with 20 or more victories.
The Titans defense ended the year with a 1.58 ERA, 317 strikeouts, 14 shutouts and a .974 fielding percentage. Their strikeout and shutout totals are fourth most in program history while ranking sixth and 10th, respectively, in WIAC history. The .974 fielding percentage is tied for fourth in school history and tied for fifth highest by a WIAC squad.
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