Warriors Put Titans Away With Eighth-Inning Runs
Eastern Connecticut State University scored 17 unanswered runs, including 11 in the game's eighth and final inning, to defeat the UW-Oshkosh baseball team, 17-5, on Saturday (March 18) in Winter Haven, Fla.
UW-Oshkosh built a 4-0 advantage before Eastern Connecticut State University rallied with three runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. The Warriors then scored 11 runs on eight hits and a UW-Oshkosh error during their final at-bat in the eighth inning to pull away.
After leaving the bases loaded in the first inning and stranding two base runners in the second, UW-Oshkosh (2-3) took a 1-0 lead on Jensen Hinton's single to center field in the third frame.
The Titans then scored three runs on five hits in the fourth inning to take a 4-0 lead. Jack Paulson singled to center field to drive in two UW-Oshkosh runs and Zack Radde followed Paulson's plate appearance with a single to center field to drive in another.
Eastern Connecticut State University (5-2), which was held to just two hits by UW-Oshkosh starting pitcher Brendan Meissner during the first four innings, used two hits and a Titan infield error to score three runs in the fifth frame. The big hit for the Warriors in the inning was Cory Baldwin's two-run single to right field. The inning ended with UW-Oshkosh relief pitcher Chris Atwood getting Alex Parkos to fly out with the bases loaded.
The Warriors captured the lead with three runs on two hits and a UW-Oshkosh error in the sixth inning. Eastern Connecticut State University tied the score on D.J. Scavone's double and went ahead 5-4 on Christian Budzik's sacrifice fly and 6-4 on a single by Baldwin.
Following a scoreless seventh inning, Eastern Connecticut State University overwhelmed the Titans with 11 runs in the eighth. The Warriors' eight-hit inning featured two apiece by Baldwin, Budzik and Jake LeFeve. Baldwin had a pair of run-scoring doubles in the frame while LeFeve hit a two-run triple. Pat Sirois added a two-run double and Alexander White a two-run single for the Warriors.
UW-Oshkosh left the bases loaded in the eighth inning after scoring a run on Logan Reckert's single to right field.
The Titans counted 13 hits, all singles, and left 12 runners on base. Reckert, Johnny Eagan, Dylan Ott, Jack Paulson and Jonathan Selchow had two hits each to lead UW-Oshkosh.
Eastern Connecticut State University tallied 14 hits and stranded seven base runners. Baldwin was 4-for-6 with five runs batted in while Budzik was 3-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBIs.
Meissner started on the mound for the Titans and pitched 4.2 innings with four hits and three runs (all earned) allowed. Six other pitchers saw action for UW-Oshkosh, including Atwood (0-1) who took the loss in his one-third inning of work. Ryan Wilkening's two innings was the longest relief session by a Titan. His performance resulted in four hits and four runs (all earned) allowed with two strikeouts.
John Parker pitched the first three innings for Eastern Connecticut State University and allowed 10 hits and four runs (three earned) with two strikeouts. Cole Ogorzalek (2-0) followed Parker on the mound and earned the pitching decision after hurling 3.1 scoreless innings with one hit allowed. Nick Rascati and Jason Staub also pitched for the Warriors, with the latter yielding two hits and one run (earned) in his full-inning of work in the eighth frame.
UW-Oshkosh will play Clarkson University (N.Y.) on Sunday (March 19) in Auburndale, Fla.
Photo by Jennifer Zuberbier