20th-Ranked Titans Declaw Sabres

Sean Grabig (So. • Howard) and Andrew Murphy (So. • Suamico) combined for 13 strikeouts in two complete baseball games as UW-Oshkosh defeated Marian University twice on Thursday (April 14) in Fond du Lac.

Murphy went the distance and punched out six batters as the Titans took the first contest, 7-2. In the nightcap, Grabig fanned seven and got plenty of support for a 10-1 victory. Both Titan pitchers posted their first career complete game. UW-Oshkosh (17-5) entered the day ranked 20th in the NCAA Division III by D3baseball.com.

A bunt single and stolen base from Nolan Fadness (Sr. • Eau Claire) got the opener started on a positive note. Tyler Kamps (So. • Appleton), who had five hits on the day, then came through with a run-scoring single. Doug Beattie (So. • Escanaba, Mich.) marked a run-scoring single of his own in the second inning to make it 2-0.

Marian University (9-9) used a hit batsman to start its equalizing third frame. Will Martin and Ryan Hiller both notched a run-scoring hit to tie the score. The Sabres would not mark again while totaling seven hits, as three of those came from Jace Unrein.

The Titans grabbed the momentum with five runs during the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. Derek Hiroskey (Sr. • Kimberly) did some damage with a double and a run-scoring groundout. Meanwhile, Fadness booked two singles and another stolen base. Kyle Van Abel's (Jr. • Kaukauna) smash stretched the lead to 7-2 during the eighth frame.

Starter Sam Forkert surrendered four earned runs over six innings to take the loss. He struck out four and issued five walks. Mitchell Andrus tossed the last three frames and let in three runs (one earned).

UW-Oshkosh left no doubt about game two, scoring three times in its second at-bat. Derek Layton (So. • Cross Plains) started things with a single and steal of second base. After an error plated two runs, Bobby Kachel (So. • La Crosse) hit into a fielder's choice and made it 3-0.

Three consecutive singles put the Sabres' lone tally on the board during the sixth. Garrett Dorn posted the run-scoring hit with two men out. Marian compiled six hits overall, with Hiller and Beau Burgert each accounting for two.

Kamps has come up with clutch extra-base hits all season, and his two-run triple put the Titans in front 5-1 during the seventh. He then scored on a passed ball before Hiroskey posted a run-scoring single and Layton a sacrifice fly.

Another triple, this time by Fadness, drove home a run during the eighth. Kamps followed with a run-scoring single to complete the successful, nonconference twin bill. Fadness ended his impressive offensive day with five hits and four runs scored.

The loss went to Jeff Thomas after he allowed one earned run in 6.1 frames. Brandon Winfield came in next and surrendered two runs without retiring a batter. The final five outs were off the arm of Adam Diedrich, who faced just four batters.

UW-Oshkosh will try to make up some ground in the WIAC race when it travels to UW-Stout on Thursday (April 21).