ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Wisconsin-Oshkosh pushed across the only run of the game in the bottom of the 12th inning to post a 1-0 win over Illinois College in the opening round of the 2026 NCAA Division III Softball Regionals on Thursday at the WashU Softball Field.

The Lady Blues are now 33-11 overall. Wisconsin-Oshkosh, which is ranked 15th in the nation, is 31-8-1.

UW-Oshkosh 1 IC 0 (12 innings)
The contest was a classic pitcher's duel as neither team could dent the scoreboard for the game's first 11 innings.

The Lady Blues' Jordan Closs was brilliant in the circle, throwing 10 shutout innings, allowing just four hits with seven strikeouts and a pair of walks.

IC out-hit the Titans, 7-6 on the day, and had the best scoring chance of regulation with one away in the sixth inning, but UW-Oshkosh was able to turn a double play, the final out coming when its first baseman made a perfect throw to home to retire Maddie Adams.

The teams traded scoreless innings all day until the 12th, when the Titans' Brianne Lopez blooped a two-out single to shallow center field to score Morgan Miller, who had walked to open the inning.

IC's Avery Fritz tossed the final 1 2/3 innings for IC and suffered the loss. The Lady Blues' offense was paced by Adams, who had two hits, including a double. Alivia Darbe also had a double for IC.

Blue Notes
The loss snapped IC's 13-game winning streak… the Lady Blues have still won 20 of their last 23 contests, and 14 of those victories have been shutouts… today was IC's first NCAA Regional appearance since 2022… the Lady Blues are now 1-5 in NCAA Regional play… today was the second time the Lady Blues and Titans have met in regional action (IC's first-ever NCAA Regional game was against UW-Oshkosh in 2021).

Up Next
IC will face Capital tomorrow in an elimination game at the WashU Softball Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.