Titans Swat Yellowjackets To Complete Weekend Sweep
Andy Brahier had a perfect day at the plate as the UW-Oshkosh baseball team won a pair of games by the 10-run rule at UW-Superior on Sunday (April 19).
The Titans (15-13, 7-9 WIAC) defeated the Yellowjackets (4-23, 0-12 WIAC) by scores of 15-5 in eight innings in the first game and 19-4 in seven innings in the second contest. UW-Oshkosh swept all four games of the weekend series by a combined score of 53-13.
Brahier ended the day 6-for-6 with one double, four walks, four runs and six runs batted in.
UW-Oshkosh walked 26 times and collected 21 hits during the doubleheader. UW-Superior pitchers hit a total of five batters, and the Yellowjackets committed eight errors – four in both games.
In the opener, the Titans pulled away by tallying 14 runs on just five hits over the last four innings.
Tied at 1 after four innings, UW-Oshkosh plated three runs on one hit in both the fifth and sixth frames, two runs on zero hits in the seventh, and six runs on three hits in the eighth.
Tyler Kozlowski gave the Titans a 2-1 edge with a run-scoring single in the fifth inning, and Brahier's two-run single in the sixth frame extended the UW-Oshkosh lead to 7-3.
The Yellowjackets cut their deficit to 9-5 with an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Titans' six-run eighth frame featured a two-run single by Jack Paulson, a sacrifice fly by Luke Gajewski and an RBI single from John Eagan that put UW-Oshkosh ahead, 13-5. Trey Demler walked with the bases loaded to plate another run, and a UW-Superior error allowed the 15th Titan tally.
Gajewski's run-scoring single gave UW-Oshkosh a 1-0 advantage in the second inning, and UW-Superior evened the score at 1 on an error with two outs in the fourth frame.
Titan batters drew 14 bases on balls, which ranks eighth in WIAC history. The Yellowjackets were narrowly outhit, 8-7, and recorded four stolen bases, but UW-Superior's 14 walks issued were the most in program history and the third most in conference annals. All 15 hits in the contest were singles.
Brahier went 3-for-3 with two walks, one run and two runs batted in. Paulson led UW-Oshkosh with three RBIs while Eagan and Gajewski both added two RBIs.
Ryan Chancellor (2-1) was credited with the win for the Titans, pitching the final 3.1 innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits. He had four strikeouts against one walk.
UW-Oshkosh starting pitcher Matt Sabel went 4.1 innings and yielded three runs (two earned) on four hits while recording four strikeouts and issuing three walks.
Brady Flahert and Greg Pitts had two hits apiece for the Yellowjackets.
UW-Superior starting pitcher Grant Schneider (0-5) took the loss after giving up four runs (two earned) in 4.2 innings. He allowed four hits and six walks.
Yellowjacket relief pitchers Jonah Lundequam and Brock McDermid issued four walks apiece. Lundequam relieved Schneider and ceded five runs (three earned) in 2.1 innings pitched while McDermid gave up the final six runs (five earned) in one inning.
In the second game, UW-Oshkosh erupted for 10 runs in the first inning and tacked on one in the third frame, sixth in the fourth and two in the fifth.
The Titans sent 14 batters to the plate in the first inning despite collecting just three hits.
UW-Superior starting pitcher Jake Lewis retired the first batter of the game before allowing the next seven batters to reach base on five walks and two hits. Lewis exited with runners at the corners and one out, and UW-Oshkosh recorded three more walks and one hit off of Yellowjacket reliever Tyler Kronstedt before the onslaught concluded.
UW-Oshkosh scored three first-inning runs on wild pitches, two came in on bases-loaded walks, one crossed on a passed ball, and another touched home on a double steal. Paulson contributed a two-run single, and Brahier capped the barrage with an RBI single.
Reckert plated a run with a single in the third inning, and UW-Oshkosh sent 11 batters to the plate in its six-run fourth frame, which included RBI singles by Noah Polcyn and Reckert and a two-run single by Brahier.
Brahier and pinch hitter Ian Czarneski both had RBI doubles in the fifth inning to increase the UW-Oshkosh lead to 19-0.
Titan starting pitcher Ben Messenger took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, but Flaherty broke up the no-hit bid and the shutout with a run-scoring double with one out in the fifth.
Messenger (2-4) picked up the win, allowing three runs (one earned) on two hits in five innings pitched. He recorded two strikeouts and seven walks.
Brahier went 3-for-3 in the nightcap with two walks, three runs and four runs batted in. Kozlowski, Cooper Lang and Reckert each added two of the Titans' 13 hits. Reckert contributed three RBI while Jacob Pohlman scored a season-high four runs.
Lewis (0-6) took the loss for UW-Superior after allowing seven runs (six earned) in one-third of an inning.
Yellowjacket pitchers issued 12 walks, all in the first four innings.
Flaherty went 2-for-3 for UW-Superior with one run and one RBI.
UW-Oshkosh travels to North Park University (Ill.) for a non-conference game on Tuesday (April 21).