Cougars Score Early To Defeat Titans

Alex Meyers pitched seven strong innings as Concordia University Chicago (Ill.) defeated UW-Oshkosh, 4-1, in a baseball contest held Sunday (Feb. 28) in Sauget, Ill.

Meyers allowed four hits and three walks to earn the victory. He allowed just two UW-Oshkosh baserunners during the first five innings.

Concordia University Chicago (2-0) leadoff hitter Bryan VanDuser went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs and one run batted in, while Andrew Massey and Keegan Tyrell added two of the Cougars' 10 hits.

The Cougars, who have qualified for the NCAA Division III Championship during each of the last four seasons, scored single runs in the first and fourth innings and two in the third.

VanDuser led off the game with a double and came around to score on a groundout against UW-Oshkosh starting pitcher Jesse Sustachek. VanDuser doubled home the eventual winning run in the third inning and scored on a single by Massey, extending the Cougars' lead to 3-0.

Brady Roberts gave Concordia University Chicago a 4-0 advantage with a run-scoring single in the fourth inning.

UW-Oshkosh (0-2) put runners on first and third base with two outs in the seventh inning, and the Titans broke up Meyers' shutout bid when a balk allowed Robbie Kleman to score.

The Titans had runners in scoring position during the eighth and ninth innings, but Cougars reliever Nick Barnhill stranded Johnny Eagan at second base in the eighth, and closer Mike Formella induced a double-play ground ball and recorded a strikeout to end the game.

Sustachek (0-1) went the distance for UW-Oshkosh, striking out six Cougars and walking one.

Eagan collected two of the Titans' six hits, including a double.

UW-Oshkosh concludes its trip to Sauget when it plays Buena Vista University (Iowa) and Webster University (Mo.) on Monday (Feb. 29).