Titans Meet Pointers In WIAC Tournament Opener

UW-Oshkosh aims for an automatic bid to the national event when it plays in the four-team WIAC Baseball Tournament this weekend (May 11-12) at Whitewater.

The #3 Titans (23-12) take on #2 UW-Stevens Point (32-8) in the first round on Saturday at 1 p.m. The opening contest pits top-seeded UW-Whitewater (33-5) against fourth-seeded UW-La Crosse (18-19) at 10 a.m. The WIAC Tournament utilizes a double-elimination format.

If UW-Oshkosh wins its first game, it will meet the other winner on Saturday night at 7 p.m. Losing teams from the first two contests play an elimination game at 4 p.m.

Sunday's action features games at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Another title game will be held at 4 p.m. if necessary. The champion receives the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Championship.

UW-Oshkosh has relied on its offense this year, batting .338 with an average of 8.5 runs per game. Bobby Kachel tops the team with 10 home runs and 52 RBI, while Tyler Kamps led the conference in triples (7) and slugging percentage (.803). The pitching staff is anchored by Joe Pavlovich, who's 5-0 with a 2.81 ERA.

The Pointers took 3-of-4 games against the Titans this season. UW-Stevens Point has three players on impressive hitting streaks with Casey Barnes (30), Dan Douglas (25) and Sean Gerber (20). Jacob Herbst paces the pitchers with eight wins and a 2.50 ERA.

UW-Oshkosh compiled a 1-2 record against both UW-La Crosse and UW-Whitewater during the regular season.

The Titans won the inaugural WIAC Tournament in 1998. UW-Stevens Point captured the title six of the last eight years.