Titans Walk Away With Sweep Of Seahawks
UW-Oshkosh totaled 30 runs and 36 hits in winning both games of a baseball doubleheader against first-time opponent Salve Regina University (R.I.) on Tuesday (March 22) in Auburndale, Fla.
The Titans scored nine runs on eight hits in the sixth inning and five runs on five hits in both the third and seventh frames to rout the Seahawks, 20-3, in the seven-inning opener.
UW-Oshkosh then rallied for a 10-9 victory in the nightcap as Robbie Kleman ended the contest with a one-out, two-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Titans took deficits of 6-3, 9-7 and 9-8 into their half of the fourth, sixth and seventh innings, respectively.
Salve Regina University (1-5), which defeated the University of Southern Maine on Monday (March 21), took an early 1-0 lead over UW-Oshkosh on Tristan Dacey's single to right field. University of Southern Maine is ranked fifth in the NCAA Division III by D3baseball.com.
UW-Oshkosh (3-6) grabbed the lead for good over Salve Regina University with its five-run third inning. The Titans benefited from a run-scoring double by Noah Polcyn and run-scoring singles by Jensen Hinton, Tyler Kozlowski and Trent Whitcomb.
Both teams produced runs in the fifth inning. The Titans scored on a sacrifice fly from Polcyn and the Seahawks on a UW-Oshkosh infield error and a single by Zack Smith.
UW-Oshkosh then put the game away with its nine runs in the sixth inning and five in the seventh.
The Titans sent 13 batters to the plate in the sixth inning, including Logan Reckert and Andy Brahier who both singled twice in the frame. Reckert drove in two runs with a single while Kleman had a two-run triple and Tyler Kozlowski a two-run double.
UW-Oshkosh's seventh inning featured a two-run triple by Jack Paulson and a run-scoring double by Johnny Eagan.
The Titans established season bests with their 20 runs and 24 hits. Brahier, Eagan, Kozlowski, Reckert and Whitcomb tallied three hits each while Hinton, Kleman and Polcyn counted two hits apiece.
Salve Regina University earned nine hits, including three by Ryan Kelly and two by Dacey.
The teams combined to leave 21 runners on base, including 11 by UW-Oshkosh.
Ben Messenger (1-1) started on the mound for UW-Oshkosh and pitched six innings before being relieved by Nick Poretto in the seventh. Messenger scattered seven hits while allowing just one earned run with seven strikeouts. Poretto allowed two hits among the five batters he faced.
Seven pitchers took to the mound for the Seahawks, including starter Brett Wilkes, who took the loss after allowing five runs and nine hits in 2.2 innings. With the exception of Wilkes, no Salve Regina University pitcher hurled more than 1.2 innings.
In the nightcap, UW-Oshkosh's seventh-inning comeback began with a walk to Paulson. Following a deep fly to center field by Eagan, Reckert singled and advanced to second base on an error by the right fielder. Jonathan Selchow then walked to load the bases before Kleman blasted his game-winning, two-run double over the center fielder's head.
UW-Oshkosh scored once in the each of the first three innings to take a 3-2 lead. The Titans scored in the first inning on infield single by Kleman, in the second on infield error and in the third on a single by Mike Finger.
Salve Regina University tallied runs in the second and third innings before erupting for four scores in the fourth.
The Seahawks scored in the second inning on a ground out by Alek Kucich and in the third on a home run by Kelly. Salve Regina University's fourth inning featured a two-run triple by Kelly and a run-scoring single by John Militano.
UW-Oshkosh got all four of the runs it allowed to the Seahawks in the fourth inning back in the fifth. The Titans scored on a bases-loaded walk to Polcyn, a bases-loaded hit by pitch to Paulson, an infield single by Eagan and a bases-loaded wild pitch with Reckert at the plate.
Salve Regina University then pulled in front, 9-7, with three runs in the sixth inning. The Seahawks earned their scores on a two-run triple by Alex Perry and a squeeze bunt by Sam Brito.
UW-Oshkosh later cut its deficit to 9-8 on Whitcomb's single to right field.
The Titans left 12 runners on base, including two in five of the seven innings. The Seahawks stranded seven base runners, with two of them left on during both the fourth and fifth innings.
UW-Oshkosh's 12 hits featured four by Finger and three by Kleman. Kelly had three of Salve Regina University's 11 hits.
Jesse Sustachek started on the mound was replaced by both Jacob Pohlman and Ryan Wilkening in the fourth inning and Colan Treml in the sixth. Treml (2-1) collected the pitching victory by retiring six of the seven batters he faced, including two by a strikeout. Sustachek allowed four runs and six hits in 3.2 innings of work.
The Seahawks sent four pitchers to the mound, including Tommy Seaver who took the loss after hurling the final 1.2 innings. He allowed four runs and six hits during the 15 batters he faced. Hunter Sleeper started for Salve Regina University and pitched one batter into the fourth inning before leaving the contest with three runs and four hits allowed.
UW-Oshkosh plays 20th-ranked University of St. Thomas (Minn.) on Wednesday (March 23) in Auburndale.