Titans Total 32 Runs, 28 Hits During Sweep Of Lions
The UW-Oshkosh baseball team hit four home runs and produced its best scoring performance in six years during the second game of the day en route to sweeping a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader over Finlandia University (Mich.) on Friday (April 23) at Tiedemann Field.
UW-Oshkosh (10-10, 8-6 WIAC) slipped past Finlandia University, 8-5, during the opener and routed the Lions by a 24-3 score in seven innings during the nightcap. The Titans' 24 runs in the second contest is their most since a 24-7, seven-inning victory over Springfield College (Mass.) on March 20, 2015.
The Titans, who are now alone in third in the WIAC standings, also swept a nonconference doubleheader against Finlandia University (0-21, 0-14 WIAC) and won all four league meetings between the teams in 2019.
During the second game of the day, UW-Oshkosh scored multiple runs in each of its six offensive innings and owned a 22-1 cushion after five frames. The Titans tallied five runs in the first inning, three runs during the second frame, four in the third, eight during the fourth, and two during both the fifth and sixth.
Jarrett Scheelk went 3-for-4 for the Titans with a pair of home runs, a walk, a stolen base, four runs scored and five runs batted in. Scheelk also pitched the first five innings to improve his record to 4-1 on the year, holding the Lions to one run on two hits and two walks with seven strikeouts. Scheelk's three-run homer upped the UW-Oshkosh lead to 18-1 in the home half of the fourth inning. His two-run shot provided the Titans a 22-1 advantage during the fifth inning. The home runs were Scheelk's team-leading sixth and seventh of the season.
Hunter Staniske, who extended his hitting streak to 23 games, was 3-for-4 with a double, home run and a career-high six RBIs. Staniske's run-scoring double opened the scoring in the first inning and his fourth homer of the year – a three-run shot – gave UW-Oshkosh a 12-1 lead during the third frame. Staniske's hitting streak is tied for third longest in program history.
Jake Andersen also hit his first home run of the season for the Titans – solo shot to left field for a 23-2 lead in the sixth inning.
UW-Oshkosh drew 11 walks and collected 17 hits, including two each from Connor Giusti, Ethan Schreier and Zach Taylor. Schreier doubled and scored four runs while Taylor reached base four times on a pair of singles and two walks. Matt Scherrman ended the nightcap 1-for-2 with a double, two walks, three runs scored, one RBI and a pair of stolen bases. Scherrman now leads the Titans with 29 runs batted in this season.
Joe Galindo accounted for three of Finlandia University's six hits and drove in two runs.
Lions starting pitcher Tyler Hale (0-7) was saddled with the loss, yielding five runs on five hits and one walk with a pair of strikeouts in one inning.
In Friday's first game, UW-Oshkosh overcame a 5-3 deficit with two runs in the fifth inning before claiming the lead with a three-run-sixth frame.
After Scherrman provided the Titans a 3-1 lead with double that plated Staniske in the bottom of the first inning, Finlandia University came back to score four runs on just three hits during the fourth frame for a 5-3 advantage.
UW-Oshkosh knotted the score at 5 on Griffith Lukes' single that brought home Scheelk. The Titans then reclaimed the lead for good on Scheelk's two-run single that plated Andrew Deardurff and Schreier. Scherrman later drove in Scheelk to increase the lead to 8-5.
Titans relief pitcher Harry Orth (2-1) picked up the win after tossing 3.1 scoreless innings across the fourth through seven frames. Orth held Finlandia University to just one hit and three walks while striking out four in relief of starting pitcher Grant Yakimisky.
Trevor Niedwiecki notched his second save of the year, pitching a pair of scoreless innings and allowing one hit. He struck out three without issuing a walk.
Giusti, Scheelk and Scherrman all had two of the Titans' 11 hits. Scherrmann hit a double, a triple, walked and drove in three runs. Scheelk added two RBIs and scored twice.
Josh Merced went 2-for-3 to pace the Lions. Finlandia University's Jacob Mead led off the doubleheader with a home run to left field.
UW-Oshkosh and Finlandia University play another conference doubleheader Saturday at Tiedemann Field.