Eagles Fly Away From Titans With Seventh-Inning Runs

Benedictine University (Ill.) scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat the UW-Oshkosh baseball team, 5-2, on Tuesday (April 18) in Lisle, Ill.

UW-Oshkosh (13-13) tied the score at 2 in the top of the seventh frame on a two-out, run-scoring double by Tyler Kozlowski, but Benedictine University took the lead for good on an RBI double from Chayance Stirbis with no outs in the home half of the seventh frame.

Benedictine University (18-10), which extended its winning streak to five games, tacked insurance runs with sacrifice flies from both Andrew Hotze and Erik Callaghan in the seventh inning to provide the final score.

The Titans had the potential tying run at the plate with two outs in the ninth inning, but Eagles closer Marty Maves induced a flyout to earn his fifth save of the season.

Benedictine University outhit the Titans, 9-7, as the Eagles' Jack Feeley went 3-for-4, and Jimmy McLaughlin and Nick Severino added two hits apiece.

Eagles relief pitcher Will Diessner (1-0) was credited with the win after recording the final out in the seventh inning.

Maves then tossed two scoreless frames to lower his season earned run average to 0.56 and notch his fifth save, which is tied for the lead in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.

Benedictine University starting pitcher Drake Berman, making his first career start, held UW-Oshkosh to one run on four hits during the first five innings before Eagles reliever Jacob Trumpis allowed one run on three hits in 1.2 innings of work.

UW-Oshkosh jumped out to a 1-0 lead as Jack Paulson launched a leadoff home run in the top of the first inning against Berman. The homer was Paulson's first of the year and the third of his career.

The Titans stranded a pair of baserunners in both the second and third innings as Berman, who retired the last seven batters he faced, coaxed ground balls to thwart the scoring opportunities.

UW-Oshkosh ended the game with 10 runners left on base, including two each in the second, third, sixth, seventh and ninth innings.

The Eagles claimed a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning against Noah Polcyn, who was making his first career start for the Titans. After a walk and a single to open the third frame, Feeley delivered a run-scoring single. Benedictine University then plated its second run on an errant throw on Feeley's steal of second base.

Scott Gorsuch (0-1) suffered his first loss as a Titan after being charged with three runs on three hits in four innings pitched. Gorsuch, who relieved Polcyn with no outs and two runners aboard in the third inning, did not allow a hit until Feeley recorded a leadoff single in the decisive seventh frame.

Gorsuch concluded his outing with five strikeouts, four walks and two hit batters.

Polcyn yielded two runs on five hits over the first two innings, while UW-Oshkosh relievers Alex Larson and Carter Turnquist combined to hold the Eagles scoreless in the final two innings.

UW-Oshkosh's Johnny Eagan singled and walked to extend his reached-base streak to 26 games.

Tuesday's matchup was the first between the teams since UW-Oshkosh swept a doubleheader against the Eagles in 2004.

UW-Oshkosh hosts UW-Platteville for doubleheaders on Saturday (April 22) and Sunday (April 23) at Tiedemann Field.