Titans, Eagles Split Doubleheader

Logan Reckert delivered a game-winning single in the ninth inning of the opening game as the UW-Oshkosh baseball team split a doubleheader with UW-La Crosse on Friday (April 3) at Tiedemann Field.

The Titans (9-7, 1-3 WIAC) defeated the Eagles, 6-5, in the first game while UW-La Crosse (10-4, 3-1 WIAC) won the nightcap, 8-3, to take 3 of 4 contests during the conference-opening series for both teams.

In the first game, UW-La Crosse tied the score at 5 in the top of the eighth inning with three runs on three hits, but UW-Oshkosh loaded the bases in the last of the ninth for Reckert, who sent Eagle closer Jameson Sadowske's pitch back up the middle for a walk-off victory.

The Titans jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a two-out single by Andy Brahier in the first inning.

UW-La Crosse answered with two runs in the second inning, but UW-Oshkosh reclaimed a 4-2 advantage with three runs in the fifth.

Noah Polcyn knotted the score at 2 with a double. Polcyn stole third base and scored the go-ahead run when the catcher's throw went into left field. Tyler Kozlowski's single plated John Eagan, who had singled, stole second base and advanced to third on another throwing error by the Eagle catcher.

The Titans went up 5-2 in the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly by Brahier before UW-La Crosse rallied to tie the score on Ben Morgan's two-run single in the eighth.

Eagan began the UW-Oshkosh ninth inning with a single and advanced to third base on an errant pick-off attempt at first base. Following a walk to Kozlowski, Sadowske intentionally walked the first batter he faced, Robbie Kleman, to load the bases. Sadowske, who saved both ends of the doubleheader against the Titans on Saturday (April 2), induced a groundball to get the first out of the inning at the plate, but Reckert laced a single back up the middle to lift the Titans to victory.

Eagan went 4-for-5 at the plate with one double, two runs and one stolen base to pace UW-Oshkosh. Kozlowski added two hits, two runs and one run batted in for the Titans, who recorded 11 hits and five stolen bases.

Jesse Sustachek (2-0) picked up the win by pitching two shutout innings of relief. He yielded one hit and one walk while striking out two batters.

UW-Oshkosh starting pitcher Matt Sabel had seven strikeouts and allowed five runs before being replaced in the eighth inning.

UW-La Crosse relief pitcher Jameson Lavery (0-1) took the loss, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks in 3.2 innings. He struck out seven batters and walked two after entering with one out in the fifth inning.

UW-La Crosse was held to seven hits and committed a season-high six errors.

The Eagles never trailed in the nightcap, scoring two runs in the first inning, one in the fourth, four in the fifth and one in the eighth.

Kleman led off the eighth inning with his first home run of the season to make the score 8-3. Brahier followed with a double, but the Titans left the bases loaded in the frame.

Alex Cordova compiled three hits, including a two-run triple in the fifth inning, to lead UW-La Crosse. Morgan owned three more of the Eagles' 14 hits.

UW-La Crosse's Ben Cejka (3-0) went the first 7.1 innings to earn the win, allowing three runs (two earned).

UW-Oshkosh starting pitcher Adam Rude (1-1) was charged with the loss after giving up three runs in 3.1 innings.

Both teams left 10 runners on base in the second contest.

UW-Oshkosh continues its seven-game homestand by hosting defending NCAA Division III champion UW-Whitewater for a doubleheader on Tuesday (April 7) at Tiedemann Field.