Titans Foiled By Pioneers' Double-Digit Scoring Frame
Transylvania University (Ky.) exploded for 10 runs in the fifth inning and held on for a 14-10 win over the UW-Oshkosh baseball team Sunday (Feb. 25) in Westfield, Ind.
The 10-run outburst turned a 3-1 deficit into an 11-3 lead for Transylvania University (1-2), which earned its first win over UW-Oshkosh in three meetings.
UW-Oshkosh pulled within 14-10 following a five-run seventh inning. The Titans brought the tying run to the plate with one out in the top of the ninth frame, but Pioneers relief pitcher Evan Patrick escaped a bases-loaded jam by recording a strikeout and a groundout to end the game.
Transylvania University's Michael Blair went 3-for-5 with a triple, a home run and six runs batted in. His three-run triple in the fifth inning extended the Pioneer lead to 7-3 and his three-run homer in the sixth frame gave Transylvania University a 12-5 advantage.
Hudson Chastain, Wade Lopiccolo and Riley Wilbur each added two hits for the Pioneers.
Pioneers starting pitcher Evan Hall picked up the win after allowing five runs on six hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out four.
Patrick got the final two outs to notch the save.
UW-Oshkosh collected 15 hits, including three from Dylan Ott, but left 11 runners on base.
Ott homered for the second straight game while Jensen Hinton hit a two-run shot for the Titans, who also received two hits apiece from Jack Paulson and Jonathan Selchow.
Ott's solo home run tied the score at 1 in the third inning before Sam Schwenn gave the Titans a 2-1 advantage with a run-scoring groundout.
UW-Oshkosh (1-2) increased its lead to 3-1 on a double from Taylor Grimm in the top of the fourth inning.
Titans starting pitcher Nick McLees held the Pioneers to one run on four hits through the first four innings. McLees had retired seven consecutive batters until issuing a leadoff walk in the fateful fifth frame.
Nine straight Pioneers reached base to start the fifth inning as Austin Butts provided Transylvania University the lead for good at 4-3 with a two-run double.
The Titans scored five runs on six hits and one Pioneers error in the seventh inning. Andy Brahier, Ott and pinch-hitter Zack Radde each registered run-scoring hits and Logan Reckert plated two with a single to center field.
Sean Cummins walked and Brahier singled to open the UW-Oshkosh eighth inning, but Pioneers relief pitcher Colton Hartig preserved Transylvania University's 14-10 lead by getting a groundout and a pair of strikeouts.
The Titans threatened again in the ninth inning as Ott led off with an infield single, Mike Wojcik reached on a one-out base hit and Paulson followed with a walk to load the bases against Hartig.
McLees suffered the loss for UW-Oshkosh, surrendering five runs (four earned) on five hits and one walk in four innings pitched.
UW-Oshkosh's Jonah Landowski and Ryan Wilkening combined to pitch 2.2 scoreless innings of relief over the final three frames.
The Titans won their previous two matchups against the Pioneers by scores of 8-4 last year and 9-1 on Saturday (Feb. 24).
UW-Oshkosh returns to action March 10 with a doubleheader against University of St. Thomas (Minn.) in U.S. Bank Stadium, the home of NFL's Minnesota Vikings and the venue for Super Bowl LII.
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Zuberbier