Titans, Pointers Swap Victories

Tyler Kozlowski had three hits and three runs batted in during the opener as UW-Oshkosh and UW-Stevens Point split a baseball doubleheader on Saturday (April 30) at Tiedemann Field.

UW-Oshkosh (14-16, 6-8 WIAC) defeated UW-Stevens Point (17-15, 8-6 WIAC), 6-3, in the first game while the Pointers downed the Titans, 4-2, in the nightcap on a two-out, two-run double in the eighth inning by Parker Sadowski.

UW-Oshkosh's Johnny Eagan went 5-for-8 on the day with two runs and three doubles.

In the first game, UW-Oshkosh jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning and extended its advantage to 6-1 in the fifth frame against UW-Stevens Point starting pitcher Mark Kowalke.

The Titans loaded the bases with one out in the first inning. Kowalke hit Robbie Kleman with a pitch to bring in the first UW-Oshkosh run and Kozlowski followed with a run-scoring groundout.

Logan Reckert gave the Titans a 3-0 cushion with an RBI single in the second inning before the Pointers scored their first run of the day on a double by Peter Strommen in the fourth frame.

The Titans' three-run fifth inning was highlighted by a run-run double by Kozlowski and an RBI double by Taylor Grimm.

Titans starting pitcher Jesse Sustachek got two quick outs to being the eighth inning, but UW-Stevens Point strung together three consecutive hits to trim its deficit to 6-3. Cody Hanke singled and scored on a double by Turner Doornink and Strommen followed with his third double of the game to plate Doornink.

Matt Sabel relieved Sustachek and recorded a strikeout to end the eighth inning. Sabel allowed a leadoff single in the ninth frame, but the Titans turned a double play for the first two outs and a groundout ended the contest as Sabel picked up his third save of the season.

Sustachek (2-3) earned the victory after allowing three runs on eight hits in 7.2 innings pitched. He walked two and struck out four.

Kozlowski and Eagan both had three of UW-Oshkosh's 10 hits, including six for extra bases. Each of Eagan's hits went for doubles while Kozlowski singled, doubled and tripled.

Kowalke (3-2) was charged with the loss, yielding six runs (four earned) on nine hits and one walk in five innings pitched.

UW-Stevens Point's Weston Nelson tossed two scoreless innings in relief of Kawalke and Tristan Brewer worked a perfect ninth frame.

All three of Strommen's hits went for doubles while Doornink added a pair of doubles for the Pointers.

In the second game, UW-Oshkosh knotted the score at 2 on a two-run homer by Robbie Kleman in the sixth inning, but Sadowski provided the eventual game-winning hit just beyond the reach of Titans right fielder Trent Whitcomb in the eighth frame.

The Pointers took a 2-0, first-inning lead on a pair of unearned runs against Titans starting pitcher Ben Messenger. Sawyer Schultz reach first base on a one-out fielding error by UW-Oshkosh third baseman Jonathan Selchow. After Messenger hit Hanke with a pitch, a single by Doornink plated Schultz, and Hanke later scored on throwing error by Selchow with two outs.

UW-Stevens Point starting pitcher Luke Thomka did not allow a hit until Eagan led off the fourth inning with a bunt single, but Thomka retired the next three Titan batters to preserve the shutout.

Eagan singled and stole second base ahead of Kleman's one-out, two-run shot to right field – his sixth homer of the season – that tied the game.

UW-Oshkosh stranded two runners in the bottom of the seventh inning, and Hanke led off the eighth frame with a bunt single. Messenger recorded a strikeout and hit Strommen with a pitch before inducing a fly ball for the second out. Sadowski then lifted a high-arching double to right field to drive in both Hanke and Strommen.

Drew Spaeth, who relieved Thomka to start the eighth inning, pitched around a two-out double by Kozlowski in the eighth inning and worked a perfect ninth frame to secure his first career save.

Thomka (2-1) picked up the win, yielding two runs on five hits in seven innings pitched. He registered a career-high seven strikeouts and issued two walks.

Messenger (3-2) suffered the complete-game loss after ceding four runs (two earned) on six hits with seven strikeouts and three walks.

Eagan had a game-high two hits for UW-Oshkosh.

UW-Oshkosh and UW-Stevens Point conclude their four-game series by playing a doubleheader on Sunday (May 1) at Tiedemann Field.