Warriors Pull Away From Titans With Late-Inning Runs

Chad Adams hit an eighth-inning, two-run triple to put Eastern Connecticut State University ahead for good as the Warriors defeated the UW-Oshkosh baseball team, 7-5, on Sunday (March 20) in Auburndale, Fla.

Adams, who also tallied a run-scoring single in the fourth inning, broke a 4-4 tie with his two-out, extra-base hit to deep center field. The Warriors recorded three hits in the eighth inning, with the others being two-out singles in consecutive at-bats from Ryan Hood and D.J. Scavone. 

Eastern Connecticut State University (6-1) extended its lead to 7-4 courtesy of an outfield error following a ninth-inning double by Tim Budd. Budd, Adams, Hood, Alex Parkos and Alexander White all had two hits for the Warriors.

UW-Oshkosh (0-6) threatened in the ninth inning by loading the bases with two hit batters and a walk in its first three plate appearances. Eastern Connecticut State University pitcher Sam Kosterich then earned his fourth save of the season by getting the Titans' Zack Radde to hit into a double play that scored Robbie Kleman and Taylor Grimm to strike out. 

The Titans took an early lead on Logan Reckert's first-inning single to left field. UW-Oshkosh had another hit in the frame, a bunt single by Johnny Eagan, and left two runners on base.

Eastern Connecticut State University scored four runs on five hits in the fourth inning to take a 4-1 lead. In addition to the run-scoring hit by Adams, the Warriors also scored twice on a double by Zachary and once on a double by Parkos. 

UW-Oshkosh cut its deficit in half with Tyler Kozlowski's single in the fourth inning. The Titans then tied the score at 4 on a single by Jack Paulson and a sacrifice fly from Reckert.

UW-Oshkosh totaled six hits, including a pair by Eagan. All six of the Titans' hits were singles. The Warriors had four of their 14 hits go for extra bases. 

Luis Vega pitched 3.2 hitless innings of relief to earn the win for Warriors. Kosterich then retired all three batters he faced in the ninth inning for the save. Chuck Vogt started on the mound for Eastern Connecticut State University, yielding seven hits and four runs over the first 4.1 innings.

UW-Oshkosh starter Jesse Sustachek pitched one batter into the fourth inning before being replaced by Jacob Pohlman, who hurled two-thirds of an inning. Sustachek allowed eight hits and four runs while Pohlman walked two of the three batters he faced.

Max Keough (0-2) pitched the next four innings for the Titans and took the loss after allowing four hits and two runs while striking out six batters. Ben Messenger tossed the final 1.1 innings and surrendered two hits and an unearned run. 

Sunday's game was the sixth between the teams and the first since Eastern Connecticut State University defeated UW-Oshkosh, 12-2, at the 2003 NCAA Division III Championship in Appleton.

UW-Oshkosh plays Allegheny College (Pa.) on Monday (March 21) in Auburndale.