UW-Oshkosh second baseman Kyle Van Abel (Sr. • Kaukauna) and pitcher Luke Westphal (Sr. • Clintonville) have been named to the All-WIAC Baseball Team.

This was the second consecutive year that Westphal made the first team. He led the conference with 78 strikeouts, while totaling a 4-6 record over 69 innings. Westphal threw five complete games in his nine starts, to go along with a 3.52 earned run average.

Westphal struck out nine during a shutout victory over UW-Stout on April 21. Against UW-Superior on March 31, he totaled 11 strikeouts and no earned runs in nine innings. Westphal added a 10-strikeout, complete-game victory over UW-Stevens Point in the WIAC Tournament. 

Van Abel led the Titans with five home runs, 38 runs scored and 29 runs batted in. He totaled 18 walks and just 10 strikeouts in 133 at-bats. Starting all 38 games, Van Abel hit .346 with five doubles and one triple.

Van Abel got hot during April, batting 12-for-20 (.600) during a six-game stretch. He compiled three hits, three RBI and two runs scored during contests against both Hamline University (Minn.) and UW-Stevens Point (April 25). For the season, Van Abel had 14 games with two or more hits.

Shortstop Michael Polcyn (Fr. • Ripon) received All-WIAC honorable mention. In his 38 starts, Polcyn led the Titans with a .355 batting average, 55 hits and four triples. He finished the year with a 15-game hitting streak.

The all-conference squad included 20 players, including six from both UW-La Crosse and UW-Whitewater. The champion Eagles featured Brooks Braga, Cole Cefalu, Jay Fanta, Kevin Johnson, Zach Lauersdorf and Tim Verthein. UW-Whitewater’s choices were Jared Fon, Dylan Friend, Marty Herum, Ryan Leavitt, Eric Schmitz and Kyle Stewart.

UW-Stevens Point accounted for five members with Bryan Clark, Sean Gerber, Justin Jirschele, Ryan Schilter and Cam Seidl. The final man voted onto the team was UW-Platteville’s Bill Oppriecht.

UW-La Crosse’s Fanta and UW-Whitewater’s Fon and Herum shared the Hitter of the Year award. Seidl received Pitcher of the Year, while UW-La Crosse’s Chris Schwarz took home Coach of the Year. The WIAC Co-Scholar-Athletes were Jake Duske (UW-Stout) and Garrett Scray (UW-La Crosse).

UW-Whitewater compiled 20 hits to defeat UW-Oshkosh, 13-6, and eliminate the Titans from the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Baseball Tournament on Saturday (May 12) in La Crosse.

Dylan Friend and Marty Herum each smacked four hits in the contest, while Jared Fon drove in three runs. UW-Whitewater (29-14) overcame a 3-2 deficit with four runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings.

Michael Polcyn (Fr. • Ripon) extended his hitting streak to 15 games with his run-scoring single during the first. UW-Oshkosh upped its margin to 3-1 with an infield single by Derek Layton (Jr. • Cross Plains).

Herum led the Warhawk offense with run-scoring hits in the first and third innings. UW-Whitewater then tied the score on an error and went up, 5-3, using a two-run triple from Matt Beyer. The Titans’ second miscue of the inning made it a three-run advantage.

Three Warhawks doubled during a four-run fifth inning. One man touched home on the two-bagger by Brandon Egnarski, while two scored on the deep double from Fon. During the eighth, Fon and Herum each drove in one more to make it 12-6.

UW-Oshkosh (15-23) tallied two singles to begin its sixth at-bat. With the bases loaded, Luke Gajewski (Fr. • Wausau) pulled a RBI groundout. Kyle Van Abel (Sr. • Kaukauna) followed with a single through the left side that plated two runs.

Doug Beattie (Jr. • Escanaba, Mich.) paced the Titan attack with three hits, while Van Abel and Alex Mullendore (Sr. • Glendale Heights, Ill.) compiled two each.

The win went to Colin Grove, who came out of the bullpen with five innings of three-run ball. Jack Larsen pitched 3.1 scoreless frames to record his first save.

Four different pitchers allowed two earned runs for UW-Oshkosh. Travis Sindles (So. • Twin Lakes) started and took the loss after 3.1 frames. Joe Pavlovich (So. • Denmark) got the last eight outs and didn’t yield an earned run.

UW-Oshkosh bounced back from a first-round defeat to advance in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Baseball Tournament on Friday (May 11) in La Crosse. The Titans will play 16th-ranked UW-La Crosse or UW-Whitewater (29-13) in an elimination game at 1 p.m. on Saturday (May 12).

In the tournament’s first contest, Tim Verthein fired an eight-inning shutout during UW-La Crosse’s 10-0 victory. Michael Polcyn (Fr. • Ripon) then posted two clutch extra-base hits to help UW-Oshkosh post a 5-3 win over UW-Stevens Point. The decision knocked the 25th-ranked Pointers (27-15) out of the tournament.

The Titans (15-22) owned plenty of opportunities against the Eagles (31-9). In the first frame, they had three consecutive men reach base before hitting into a double play. UW-Oshkosh later put two men on during the third, fourth, seventh and eighth innings.

In the second, UW-La Crosse gained a 2-0 lead with run-scoring hits from Corey Geary and Cole Cefalu. After a solo homer by Jay Fanta in the fourth, Brooks Braga crushed a three-run shot to make it 6-0 in the fifth.

The Eagles tallied two more runs on an error in the sixth. Geary added a run-scoring single to finish the contest with two runs scored and two RBI.

Both pitchers went the distance, with Verthein allowing five hits and five walks with five strikeouts. James Lacy (So. • Shawano) took the loss with five earned runs on 10 hits.

UW-Oshkosh got its zero off the board quickly against UW-Stevens Point. In the opening frame, Kyle Van Abel (Sr. • Kaukauna) drilled a solo homer over the left-field wall.

Each of the next three innings featured one run. The Pointers tied the score on Jimmy Coady’s single in the second. Polcyn then doubled home one to put the Titans back on top. During the fourth, Justin Jirschele connected for a home run down the right-field line to make it 2-2.

That score remained until the bottom of the seventh, when UW-Oshkosh marked three times with two men out. Following two singles, Tyler Kamps (Jr. • Appleton) lifted a sacrifice fly for the lead. Polcyn came up next and ripped a two-run triple to center for the 5-2 margin.

UW-Stevens Point earned its final score on an eighth-inning double from Ryan Schilter. Casey Barnes led all Pointers with his three-hit game.

Van Abel compiled three runs and two hits, as UW-Oshkosh’s 1-4 batters combined for eight hits.

Luke Westphal (Sr. • Clintonville) struck out 10 men, while yielding three runs on 10 hits, for the victory. The loss went to Ryan Iverson, who surrendered three runs over 2.2 frames.

UW-Oshkosh opens against regular-season champion UW-La Crosse at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Baseball Tournament on Friday (May 11) in La Crosse. The Eagles (30-9) are ranked 16th in the NCAA Division III by D3baseball.com.

The Titans (14-21) and Eagles will begin the double-elimination tournament at 10 a.m. UW-Oshkosh is seeded fourth in the bracket, while UW-La Crosse is first. During league play on April 14-15, UW-La Crosse took four games against UW-Oshkosh, with each victory coming by one run.

UW-La Crosse finished the WIAC schedule with 17 straight wins. The Eagles’ 21-2 conference record was the league’s best since 1999.

UW-Oshkosh posted a 10-14 WIAC record for fourth place. The Titans have 10 of their defeats this year by one run.

In the other first-round meeting, second-seeded UW-Whitewater (26-13) faces third-seeded UW-Stevens Point (27-13). The losers of the first two contests will meet Friday afternoon in an elimination game.

There will be three tournament games on Saturday (May 12), and one on Sunday (May 13) if necessary. The winner of the WIAC Tournament advances to the NCAA Division III Championship.

Rain has cancelled Sunday's (May 6) doubleheader at Tiedemann Field between the UW-Oshkosh and Marian University baseball teams.

The games will not be rescheduled.

UW-Oshkosh's next action is at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Tournament in La Crosse. The Titans (14-21) open the double-elimination event by playing UW-La Crosse (30-9) at 10 a.m. on Friday (May 11).

The other two teams in the league tournament are UW-Stevens Point (27-13) and UW-Whitewater (26-13).

Michael Swift (Fr. • Kenosha) totaled five hits and a game-winning sacrifice fly as UW-Oshkosh and UW-Platteville split a baseball doubleheader on Sunday (April 29) in Platteville. It was the WIAC finale for the Titans (14-21/10-14 WIAC).

The Pioneers (9-26/5-15 WIAC) jumped to a big lead before needing a walk-off in their 10-9 opener victory. UW-Oshkosh then scored twice in the eighth inning to earn a 10-8 decision. The Titans will wait for the results of next weekend's (May 4-5) four-game series between UW-Superior and UW-Whitewater to see if they receive a spot in the four-team WIAC Tournament on May 11-13.

In game one, UW-Platteville counted eight runs in the middle innings. During the third, Jon Lewerke posted a two-run double. After runs came home on a walk and hit-by-pitch, Lewerke booked a two-run single in the fifth to go up, 8-1.

UW-Oshkosh broke out with four runs in both the sixth and eighth frames. In the sixth, Derek Layton (Jr. • Cross Plains) and Michael Polcyn (Fr. • Ripon) each tallied a two-run single. Following Alex Mullendore’s (Sr. • Glendale Heights, Ill.) two-run single in the eighth, an error tied the score at 9.

The Pioneers loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth with two singles and a fielder’s choice. Evan Greco then hit a groundball and the Titans tried to make a play at the plate. The throw was off-target, allowing Trevor Kattre to score for the win.

Grant Oldenburg took the victory, going two innings with one unearned run. Shane Murphy started for UW-Platteville and yielded five runs over 5.2 frames. UW-Oshkosh had Eric Stenson (Fr. • Oshkosh) take the loss with one earned run in 3.1 innings, after Chad Wyss (So. • New Lisbon) allowed four runs in 0.2 innings. James Lacy (So. • Shawano) started for the Titans and surrendered four runs over four frames.

Neither team was very sharp in the second contest, which was played in a cool rain. UW-Platteville scored twice on fielding errors in the third frame and once more in the first. The Titans managed to take a 4-2 lead in the third after Polcyn ripped a double to right-center.

In the bottom of the third, Lewerke and Charlie Beckman each notched a RBI single to give the Pioneers a 6-4 cushion. Polcyn cut that margin in half when he singled home a run during the fourth.

Trailing 7-5 in the seventh, the Titans reached on an error, single and walk. Kyle Van Abel (Sr. • Kaukauna) then came through with a huge bases-clearing double.

UW-Platteville tied the score, 8-8, when Tyler Jacobson grounded out in the seventh. UW-Oshkosh got its deciding run in the eighth when Swift hit a sacrifice fly after the Pioneers committed a hit-by-pitch, wild pitch and walk.

Brock Guetzke (Jr. • Hartford) fired seven innings, allowing two earned runs with nine strikeouts, for the win. Troy Mrkvicka (Sr. • Greendale) obtained his third save of the year with a scoreless eighth frame. Brad Kerkman (loss) pitched the eighth, giving up two unearned runs, after Tyler Nelson went four innings with one earned run.

UW-Oshkosh concludes its regular season against Marian University on Sunday (May 6) at Tiedemann Field.

Bill Oppriecht and Adam Theis combined for 19 strikeouts and just one earned run to give UW-Platteville a baseball sweep over UW-Oshkosh on Saturday (April 28) in Platteville.

While their pitchers fired complete games, the Pioneers (8-25/4-14 WIAC) earned victories of 11-1 and 8-2. UW-Platteville’s 2-3-4 hitters in the lineup combined for 12 hits and 10 runs batted in, featuring six RBI from cleanup man Trevor Kattre.

The turning point in the opener was a seven-run third inning by the Pioneers. A trio of singles loaded the bases for Levi Ney, who knocked home one run. Kevin Fessler later posted a two-run single, while Jon Lewerke and Steve Wolke each gained a RBI to make it 7-1.

UW-Oshkosh (13-20/9-13 WIAC) marked its lone tally in the third when Tyler Kamps (Jr. • Appleton) walked, stole second base and scored on Jake Dostalek’s (So. • Waterford) single. The Titans attained four hits in the contest and stranded two runners during the second frame.

Run-scoring triples from Ney in the fourth and Kattre in the sixth added to the scoring total. Ney finished the game with three hits and three runs scored.

Oppriecht struck out 10 batters while tossing all seven innings. Luke Westphal (Sr. • Clintonville) took the loss, allowing six earned runs on 13 hits over six frames.

The nightcap was a pitchers duel, with neither team putting two men on base until the seventh inning. Cody Luther tripled to open the UW-Platteville sixth. He then took a 1-0 lead by scoring on a Ney groundout.

During the seventh, the Titans responded with two runs on three hits. Alex Mullendore (Sr. • Glendale Heights, Ill.) posted a bunt single, and Kyle Van Abel (Sr. • Kaukauna) scored on the play thanks to an error. Doug Beattie (Jr. • Escanaba, Mich.) then put UW-Oshkosh on top, 2-1, with a single to centerfield.

That cushion didn’t last because the Pioneers booked a four-run frame in the bottom half. Matt Wells (Jr. • Little Chute) entered to pitch for the Titans, but he walked three straight batters. UW-Platteville then scored on a wild pitch, hit batter and two more walks to take a 5-2 lead.

Kattre, who marked two hits and three runs batted in during the game, smacked a two-run double during the eighth for some insurance. Theis earned the pitching win with nine innings, nine strikeouts and zero earned runs.

Wells suffered the loss with three earned runs while getting two outs. Travis Sindles (So. • Twin Lakes) started and allowed two earned runs with eight strikeouts over 6.1 innings.

UW-Oshkosh concludes its WIAC schedule against UW-Platteville on Sunday (April 29).

Nationally ranked UW-Stevens Point scored deciding runs in the eighth inning for two baseball wins over UW-Oshkosh on Wednesday (April 25) at Tiedemann Field. The Pointers (24-8/12-4 WIAC) are ranked 13th in the NCAA Division III by D3baseball.com.

In game one, a pair of sacrifice flies gave UW-Stevens Point a 6-5 decision. After trailing by five, the Pointers rallied for an 8-7 triumph in the nightcap. UW-Stevens Point is the conference leader in hitting (.335), pitching (2.82 earned run average) and fielding (.972).

The Pointers got off to an ideal start when their first four men reached base. Justin Jirschele drove in two runs with a double. Next up was Sean Gerber, who ripped a run-scoring triple. UW-Stevens Point held a 4-0 lead until the bottom of the third.

Doug Beattie (Jr. • Escanaba, Mich.) singled and Michael Swift (Fr. • Kenosha) walked to get UW-Oshkosh’s (13-18/9-11 WIAC) offense on track. With two outs, Michael Polcyn (Fr. • Ripon) pulled a double to right field that scored two runs.

Kyle Van Abel (Sr. • Kaukauna) tripled to lead off the sixth frame. He touched home on an error before Swift delivered a two-run double to put the Titans on top, 5-4.

Dan Douglas singled in the seventh before advancing on a wild pitch and fly out. Jirschele notched the sacrifice fly to equal the score at 5. The Pointers then drew three walks to set up a Douglas sacrifice fly in the eighth frame.

Pitching in relief, Eric Stenson threw 5.2 innings without allowing a hit. Troy Mrkvicka (Sr. • Greendale) surrendered the first four runs while getting one out, but James Lacy (So. • Shawano) took the loss with two runs allowed in 1.1 frames.

The win went to JP Feyereisen, who yielded two unearned runs in three innings. UW-Stevens Point starter Max Frederick was charged with three runs in five frames, while Cam Seidel got the last three outs for a save.

During the nightcap, UW-Oshkosh posted a big first inning of its own. Tyler Kamps (Jr. • Appleton) drew a walk and Polcyn marked a single. Van Abel then stepped up and hammered a three-run blast over the left-field wall.

The Pointers chipped away with Ryan Schilter’s two-run single in the second inning to pull within one. During the fourth, Kamps and Polcyn each knocked home one run. Brock Guetzke (Jr. • Hartford) followed with a single, and a throwing error helped UW-Oshkosh increase its margin to 7-2.

In the sixth, Riley Spetz came through with a pinch-hit double that made it a 7-4 ballgame. After a Jirschele single to begin the seventh, Gerber drilled a two-run homer to center to pull within one.

Small-ball was the theme in the eighth frame, as UW-Stevens Point drew two walks and got hit by two pitches. Gerber upped his daily total to five RBI when he grounded out for a 7-7 score. Ryan Iverson then got hit with the bases loaded to force in the winning run.

Iverson also earned the pitching win with two scoreless frames. Starter Brad Stroik (one inning) gave up three runs, while Jacob Herbst (2.2 innings) let in four. Seidl got five outs by facing just four batters for his second save of the day.

The loss went to Swift after he walked two and got one man out. Matt Wells (Jr. • Little Chute) started for the Titans, allowing three runs over 4.2 frames. Lacy was also charged with three runs in 1.1 innings.

Polcyn and Van Abel each counted four hits in the doubleheader, while Van Abel extended his hitting streak to 14 games.

UW-Oshkosh wraps up conference play with a four-game series at UW-Platteville on Saturday and Sunday (April 28-29).

Tyler Kamps (Jr. • Appleton) counted five hits as UW-Oshkosh won both baseball games over UW-Stout to finish a four-game sweep on Sunday (April 22) at Tiedemann Field.

In the opener, Brock Guetzke (Jr. • Hartford) struck out eight batters during an 8-3 victory. The Titans (13-16/9-9 WIAC) took the second game, 10-3, thanks to scoring in six different innings. UW-Oshkosh obtained its first 4-0 series win since the 2009 season.

UW-Stout (15-17/5-13 WIAC) posted a pair of run-scoring groundouts to take the lead during the opener’s third frame. The Titans then equaled the score in the fourth, using an error and Michael Swift’s (Fr. • Kenosha) grounder.

Jake Dostalek (So. • Waterford) put UW-Oshkosh ahead, 3-2, with his fifth-inning single. Kamps then added to the lead with a single in the sixth and a two-run homer during the eighth. A two-run double from Alex Mullendore (Sr. • Glendale Heights, Ill.) plated the Titans’ final score.

Guetzke went 5.2 frames out of the bullpen, allowing just a solo homer to AJ Yusten, for the win. Matt Wells (Jr. • Little Chute) started and allowed two unearned runs over 3.1 innings.

The loss went to Tyler Hamann, who surrendered four unearned runs in 6.2 innings. Andrew Driessen yielded the final four runs in 1.1 innings of work.

UW-Stout again took an early lead in the nightcap, with Matt Guida’s single making it 1-0. This time, Dostalek tied the score with a single and Mullendore delivered a two-run single for go on top, 3-1.

The Titans put the game out of reach with three runs in the sixth and two more in the eighth. Following a RBI single from Mullendore during the fifth, Michael Polcyn (Fr. • Ripon) continued his hot streak with RBI on a triple and single. Guetzke added a run-scoring double during the sixth to make it a 7-3 margin.

Brett Vavra, who had two hits in the contest, notched a RBI single for UW-Stout’s third tally. Matt Guida was the other Blue Devil with a pair of hits.

Travis Sindles (So. • Twin Lakes) put 10 men on base over six innings, but he allowed just three runs for the victory. Troy Mrkvicka (Sr. • Greendale) surrendered one hit during the last three frames for the save.

Four different Blue Devils allowed two-plus runs, with Zach Kiminski (four runs) taking the loss after 4.2 innings. John Ewald and Ian Schiltz each yielded two runs while getting four outs.

UW-Oshkosh, now fourth in the conference standings, faces UW-Stevens Point (22-8) on Wednesday (April 25) at Tiedemann Field.

UW-Oshkosh head baseball coach Tom Lechnir recorded his 700th coaching victory in the Titans' 15-0 win over UW-Stout on Saturday (April 21) at Tiedemann Field.

Lechnir, who is in his 24th season at UW-Oshkosh, is just the 21st coach in NCAA Division III history to reach the 700-win plateau. His win total currently ranks 10th among all active NCAA Division III coaches.

Since becoming UW-Oshkosh's head coach in 1989, Lechnir has guided the Titans to a 700-271-1 record (.721 winning percentage). UW-Oshkosh has posted nine 30-plus win seasons under his leadership, including marks of 41-4 in 1994, 41-5 in 1998, 39-5 in 1995 and 34-4 in 1999.

Lechnir coached UW-Oshkosh to the NCAA Division III title in 1994. He also led the Titans to nine NCAA Division III World Series appearances (1990-96, 1998, 2003) and 12 WIAC championships (1989, 1991-99, 2007, 2009). Lechnir was named the NCAA Division III Coach of the Year in 1994 and the WIAC Coach of the Year in 1998, 1999 and 2007.

Lechnir, a Mosinee High School graduate, played for the Titans from 1979-82 and served as an assistant coach at UW-Oshkosh from 1983-88. During Lechnir's involvement with the baseball program, UW-Oshkosh has compiled an overall record of 995-336-2.

Lechnir, the winningest coach in WIAC history, has helped 23 of his players sign professional baseball contracts. After the 1999 season, five Titans were selected in Major League Baseball's Amateur Draft. Lechnir’s players have combined for 38 All-America and four National Player of the Year awards.

UW-Oshkosh (11-16) defeated UW-Stout, 4-2, in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader. The teams will play another doubleheader on Sunday (April 22) at Tiedemann Field.

UW-Oshkosh gained its first doubleheader sweep of the year with two victories over the UW-Stout baseball team on Saturday (April 21) at Tiedemann Field.

Luke Westphal (Sr. • Clintonville) struck out half the batters he faced in the Titans’ 15-0 opener win. During the nightcap, UW-Oshkosh (11-16/7-9 WIAC) broke a fifth-inning tie and held on for the 4-2 decision. These two squads entered the day tied in the conference standings.

In the first inning of the twinbill, the Titans marked five hits. Jake Dostalek (So. • Waterford) and Kyle Van Abel (Sr. • Kaukauna) each booked a RBI single to go ahead, 4-0. The lead increased to 8-0 when Brock Guetzke (Jr. • Hartford) roped a run-scoring double in the second and Michael Polcyn (Fr. • Ripon) a two-run triple during the third.

UW-Oshkosh totaled 16 hits in the game, including four in the fourth frame. The Blue Devils (15-15/5-11 WIAC) committed three errors to help the six-run inning, which featured run-scoring deliveries by Guetzke and Doug Beattie (Jr. • Escanaba, Mich.).

The league’s top-hitting team with a .335 average, UW-Stout was held to .193 by the Titan pitchers over two contests. A Blue Devil never advanced past second base in the opener while stranding two runners in the second and sixth innings.

Westphal went five innings, striking out nine with two hits allowed. Eric Stenson threw the final two frames and preserved the shutout, which was UW-Oshkosh’s biggest since 2006.

UW-Stout utilized six pitchers, but none for more than 1.1 innings. Cory Hedeen took the loss with five runs allowed, while Mike Dumask surrendered six runs (three earned). Jake Lunow and Mitch Dunaway combined for seven outs of scoreless relief.

In the nightcap’s first frame, Dostalek came up with a two-out single to put the Titans up 2-0. UW-Stout then equaled the score in the fourth inning on a Jon Schoch double and Charlie Meyer single.

The bottom of the fifth began with a fielding error. UW-Oshkosh took advantage, using run-scoring singles by Guetzke and Alex Mullendore (Sr. • Glendale Heights, Ill.) to grab the 4-2 lead.

James Lacy (So. • Shawano) fired all nine innings and allowed two earned runs for the win. He yielded just one hit over the final three frames. The loss went to Carter Vogt, who gave up two ER in five innings before Dan Britts tossed three scoreless innings.

The top hitter of the day was Polcyn, who recorded four hits, five runs and two RBI. Van Abel also tallied three hits and upped his hitting streak to 10 games.

UW-Oshkosh and UW-Stout are set for two more contests on Sunday (April 22) at Tiedemann Field.

UW-La Crosse completed an unprecedented sweep by taking its fourth consecutive walk-off win over the UW-Oshkosh baseball team on Sunday (April 15) in La Crosse.

The Eagles (18-8/10-2 WIAC) used two-out singles from Jay Fanta for a 4-3 victory in the opener and Adam Cordova for a 9-8 triumph in the nightcap. Fanta’s hit came during the bottom of the ninth inning, while Cordova delivered his safety in the lower half of the 12th.

While Kevin Johnson tossed 6.1 scoreless innings to begin the opener, UW-La Crosse got the game’s first run in the third frame. Following a Trevor Burmeister double, Cole Cefalu lined a single to put the Eagles up, 1-0.

The Titans (9-16/5-9 WIAC) put something together with three runs in the ninth. Brock Guetzke (Jr. • Hartford) led off with a single and touched home on an error. Zach Lauersdorf then committed a balk to score a runner. Tyler Kamps (Jr. • Appleton) singled up the middle to make it a 3-1 lead.

In the ninth, Jordan DeBoer came up with a pinch-hit double. Cefalu, who hit a game-winning homer yesterday, roped a two-out single to tie this one, 3-3. Fanta then smacked his single to left-center for the winning tally.

Lauersdorf earned his third pitching win in 24 hours, recording eight outs while allowing two earned runs. After James Lacy (So. • Shawano) went 8.1 innings with two runs allowed, Matt Wells (Jr. • Little Chute) took the loss during the ninth.

In the nightcap, Kamps got a run-scoring single and Alex Mullendore (Sr. • Glendale Heights, Ill.) a two-run double to go ahead, 3-1. The Eagles marked twice during the fourth inning on Cefalu’s double to tie the contest.

UW-Oshkosh scored five runs in the fifth inning, using three hits and one error. After Mullendore posted a RBI single, two Titans tallied on a fielding miscue. Michael Polcyn (Fr. • Ripon) had a five-hit day and came up with the two-run single to make it 8-3.

Garrett Novinski and Zach Harazin drove in runs to pull the Eagles within 8-5 after seven. UW-La Crosse then scored three times during the eighth, as Brooks Braga doubled home two runs to create another deadlock.

In the 12th, Braga reached on a fielding error. He then advanced on another error and touched the plate on Cordova’s single up the middle.

Cefalu was the top batter of the doubleheader, notching seven hits and five RBI. Kamps marked a hit in six straight at-bats, including five singles during the second contest.

Tim Larson yielded seven runs (three earned) in the opening 4.1 innings for UW-La Crosse. Mark Kowalke and Skyler Debilzen (win) then finished the final 7.2 frames with just one run allowed.

Making his first relief appearance since 2010, Luke Westphal (Sr. • Clintonville) allowed three earned runs over 4.2 innings for the loss. Chad Wyss (So. • New Lisbon) surrendered two runs during the first 3.2 frames before Michael Swift (Fr. • Kenosha) let in three runs over the next 3.1 innings.

UW-Oshkosh has four home games against UW-Stout next weekend (April 21-22).

Cole Cefalu and Zach Harazin posted the clinching hits as UW-La Crosse grabbed two walk-off victories over the UW-Oshkosh baseball team on Saturday (April 14) in La Crosse. The Titans (9-14/5-7 WIAC) now have six losses by one run this season.

The Eagles (16-8/8-2 WIAC) took both contests by a 4-3 score. In the opener, Brooks Braga tripled and came home on Harazin’s ninth-inning, bases-loaded single. The nightcap required 10 innings and ended when Cefalu led off with a blast to left field.

Each squad recorded a three-run frame in the first contest. During the third, UW-La Crosse went up on run-scoring singles by Adam Cordova and Garrett Novinski. A groundout from Corey Geary plated another to make it 3-0.

UW-Oshkosh responded with three runs in the fourth after loading the bases. Brock Guetzke (Jr. • Hartford) drove in two with his single to center. Alex Mullendore (Sr. • Glendale Heights, Ill.), who had three hits on the day, then lifted a sacrifice fly to tie the contest.

The next five innings were scoreless as the teams combined for five hits. In the bottom of the ninth, Braga booked his one-out triple. Harazin followed with a grounder through the left side of the infield to end the game.

Zach Lauersdorf (win) got four outs after Tim Verthein threw the opening 7.2 frames and yielded three runs on eight hits. Guetzke started for UW-Oshkosh and allowed three runs over 5.1 innings. Matt Wells (Jr. • Little Chute) took the loss, giving up one run over three innings.

In the second contest, Travis Sindles (So. • Twin Lakes) held the Eagles scoreless into the fifth inning. Meanwhile, the Titans notched four singles during the fourth, including one by Bobby Kachel (Jr. • La Crosse) to go ahead, 1-0.

After two outs in the fifth frame, UW-La Crosse got a RBI double from Braga. The Eagles then took the lead on a wild pitch and throwing error during the seventh. Braga added a solo homer to give the home squad a 3-1 advantage.

The Titans began their ninth inning with a Guetzke single. Mullendore stepped into the batter’s box next and crushed a two-run homer to tie the game. UW-Oshkosh had two runners on base to begin the 10th, but was unable to get the clutch hit that Cefalu posted in the bottom half.

Garrett Scray settled for a no-decision after pitching nine innings of three-run ball. Lauersdorf again grabbed the win, firing one scoreless frame. The loss went to Troy Mrkvicka (Sr. • Greendale), who surrendered three runs in four innings after Sindles allowed one in the first five frames.

Kyle Van Abel (Sr. • Kaukauna) topped all players with his five-hit day, while Cefalu totaled four hits and Braga three extra-base knocks. The Eagles’ doubleheader sweep was their first against the Titans since 2002.

UW-Oshkosh and UW-La Crosse meet for another twinbill on Sunday (April 15).

UW-Oshkosh had four players record a multi-hit game to earn one win against the UW-Stevens Point baseball team on Wednesday (April 11) at Tiedemann Field. The Pointers (14-8/6-4 WIAC) are currently ranked 12th in the NCAA Division III by d3baseball.com.

Tyler Kamps (Jr. • Appleton), who posted two hits, smacked a double and scored on a passed ball to give the Titans a 5-4 opener victory. Cam Seidl then tossed a two-hitter with seven strikeouts to highlight UW-Stevens Point’s 11-1 triumph.

During the opening inning of the day, Ryan Schilter doubled home one run as the Pointers took a 2-0 lead. UW-Oshkosh (9-12/5-5 WIAC) then cut its deficit to 2-1 during the third frame on a Kyle Van Abel (Sr. • Kaukauna) double. Van Abel finished the contest with two hits and three runs batted in.

UW-Stevens Point tallied twice in the fifth inning, including a single by Justin Jirschele, to up its margin to 4-1. The Titans then used a two-run double from Van Abel and a run-scoring double by Kamps to tie the score in the bottom half.

Kamps booked UW-Oshkosh’s fifth double of the game when he led off the seventh. Following two strikeouts, Kamps hustled home on a passed ball for the winning tally. The Titans have now gained their last five wins by a total of six runs.

Luke Westphal (Sr. • Clintonville), who increased his WIAC-leading strikeout total to 48, gained the win with seven innings, nine Ks and three earned runs. Matt Wells (Jr. • Little Chute) fanned three batters while retiring six in order for the save.

The loss went to Zach Wendorf after he yielded one unearned run in the final two frames. Max Frederick (four innings) started and allowed four runs, while Jacob Herbst took the mound next and recorded two scoreless innings.

In the nightcap, UW-Stevens Point took over with a seven-run sixth frame. The inning began with two walks and a single. At one point, five consecutive men reached base. Casey Barnes and Dan Douglas each delivered a two-run single as the visitors grabbed an 8-1 cushion.

UW-Oshkosh scored during the third inning on a Michael Polcyn (Fr. • Ripon) single. Polcyn tied Jirschele with four hits for the doubleheader high.

Seidl sent down nine straight Titans from the third to sixth innings. UW-Oshkosh’s lone base runner after the third was Mike Locasto’s (Jr. • Oak Park, Ill.) sixth-inning walk.

James Lacy (So. • Shawano) started for the home squad and gave up one run in 4.1 frames. Troy Mrkvicka (Sr. • Greendale) got three outs, but he allowed five runs for the loss. Eric Stenson (Fr. • Oshkosh) was also charged with three runs in one frame.

UW-Oshkosh has a four-game set at UW-La Crosse beginning on Saturday (April 14).

UW-Oshkosh scored 10 times with two outs to win once during its doubleheader at UW-Whitewater on Friday (April 6). The Warhawks (11-6/2-2 WIAC) are ranked 21st by D3baseball.com.

In the opener, UW-Whitewater bolted to a 4-0 lead on its way to an 8-3 victory. The Titans (8-11/4-4 WIAC) then tallied their final seven runs with two men out to take the nightcap, 8-6. This was the seventh straight doubleheader split for UW-Oshkosh.

Ryan Leavitt posted a two-run double in the third inning of the opening contest. Trailing 4-0, the Titans marked twice during the seventh frame. Kyle Van Abel’s (Sr. • Kaukauna) run-scoring single pulled his squad within 4-2.

Marty Herum contributed RBI singles for the Warhawks in the third and eighth innings. A two-run single by Steve Bartlein then put the game away. Kyle Stewart tossed 6.2 effective frames, allowing two runs, for the victory.

UW-Oshkosh received a solo homer by Van Abel during the ninth for its final tally. Chad Wyss (So. • New Lisbon) started and took the loss after giving up three runs in three innings. Eric Stenson (Fr. • Oshkosh) was on the mound for 3.2 frames and allowed four runs.

Van Abel again was the spark in the opening at-bat of game two. He walked and came around on a double from Michael Polcyn (Fr. • Ripon). That margin didn’t last long, as Herum smoked a run-scoring single to make it 1-1 in the bottom half.

After two men were out in the second, UW-Oshkosh had five consecutive batters reach base. A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bags for Tyler Kamps (Jr. • Appleton). He hit a rocket double to right field that scored three men. Polcyn followed with a RBI single to give the Titans a 5-1 cushion.

Van Abel continued his stellar day with more two-out hits, a solo homer during the fourth and a run-scoring single in the fifth. He then tacked on a sacrifice fly during the seventh frame.

In the doubleheader, Van Abel totaled four hits, four runs and five RBI. The Titans also used four-hit performances by Polcyn and Jake Dostalek (So. • Waterford).

UW-Whitewater completed its scoring with JT Schneider’s two-run double in the sixth and Dylan Friend’s three-run triple in the ninth.

The win went to James Lacy (So. • Shawano), who held the Warhawks to three runs in six innings. Matt Wells (Jr. • Little Chute) then fired two scoreless frames for the Titans. UW-Whitewater’s Aaron Leitner (loss) was charged with five runs while getting five outs.

UW-Oshkosh faces another nationally ranked team when its hosts UW-Stevens Point on Wednesday (April 11).

UW-Oshkosh split its sixth consecutive doubleheader as it played two close baseball games at UW-Whitewater on Thursday (April 5). The Warhawks (10-5/1-1 WIAC) are currently ranked 21st by D3baseball.com.

UW-Whitewater scored the go-ahead run on a catcher’s throwing error during a 6-2 decision. The Titans (7-10/3-3 WIAC) then returned the favor in the nightcap, prevailing on an 11th-inning passed ball for the 3-2 triumph.

Earlier in the week, UW-Oshkosh lost one game on a wild pitch and won the next on a passed ball against UW-Superior. Today was the Titans’ third contest this year of at least 11 innings.

Michael Swift (Fr. • Kenosha) put UW-Oshkosh on top with his sacrifice fly in the opener’s second inning. The Warhawks tied the score during the fourth, but Brock Guetzke (Jr. • Hartford) came back with a sixth-inning RBI single to lead, 2-1.

UW-Whitewater scored once in both the sixth and seventh frames before marking three times in the eighth. Andrew Bauer successfully stole third base and then came home when the ball got away to take a 3-2 advantage. Dylan Friend posted the big hit during the eighth, tripling to the gap and making it 5-2.

Jack Larsen took the win after allowing two earned runs over 7.2 frames. The loss fell on Luke Westphal (Sr. • Clintonville), who struck out eight while pitching the entire game.

In the second contest, UW-Whitewater took a 2-1 advantage on Jared Fon’s homer and Mike Mierow’s run-scoring single during the sixth inning.

The Titans responded in the eighth with a leadoff walk by Kyle Van Abel (Sr. • Kaukauna). Guetzke delivered a single to score Van Abel and make it 2-2.

UW-Whitewater put men on second and third base during the bottom of the ninth, but Troy Mrkvicka (Sr. • Greendale) got out of the jam. Alex Mullendore (Sr. • Glendale Heights, Ill.) then drew a walk to open the 11th. He advanced on a wild pitch and later touched home on the passed ball with two outs.

Mrkvicka earned the win after allowing just one hit over 2.1 scoreless innings. Travis Sindles (So. • Twin Lakes) started, giving up two runs in 5.1 frames, before Matt Wells (Jr. • Little Chute) notched 10 outs and zero runs. Michael Huckabay (loss) gave up one unearned run in three frames after Matthew Roberts surrendered two runs and six walks during the opening 7.1 innings.

Despite being outhit, 9-4, the Titans were patient enough to take 10 walks. The top batters of the doubleheader were UW-Whitewater’s Fon with five hits and Mierow with four.

UW-Oshkosh stays in Whitewater for another doubleheader on Friday (April 6).

UW-Oshkosh and UW-Superior played their third straight one-run baseball game as the squads grabbed one win apiece on Sunday (April 1) at Tiedemann Field.

Michael Polcyn (Fr. • Ripon) launched a two-run home run in the Titans’ 7-6 victory in the opener. UW-Superior (11-8/2-2 WIAC) then scored five runs during its first three at-bats to take the second game, 6-3. These teams also split one-run wins on Saturday (March 31).

Tony Remund led off game one with a double. After two outs, T.J. Evanson launched a two-run home run. Evanson's homer was the first allowed by UW-Oshkosh pitching this year. The runs also snapped a streak of 11.2 scoreless innings hurled by Travis Sindles (So. • Twin Lakes).

UW-Oshkosh (6-9/2-2 WIAC) then grabbed a 3-2 lead in the bottom half of the first inning. The Titans scored twice on Kyle Van Abel’s (Sr. • Kaukauna) single and once on Trey Demler's (Fr. • Oshkosh) single.

The Titans stretched their cushion to 5-2 when Polcyn belted a two-run home run in the second inning. The Yellowjackets responded with a three-run fifth inning to equal the score. Evanson, Rob Veith and Tom Fairbanks each drove in a run with a single.

Van Abel walked and stole a base during the sixth inning to start a rally. Doug Beattie (Jr. • Escanaba, Mich.) then put UW-Oshkosh on top with his single to right field. A fielding miscue allowed the Titans to increase their advantage to 7-5.

Chad Wyss (So. • New Lisbon) replaced Sindles in the second inning and allowed three runs over the next four frames. Troy Mrkvicka (Sr. • Greendale) then earned the victory after holding the Yellowjackets to just one run and one hit over the next four innings.

UW-Superior had Nick Bursik start and yield six earned runs over six innings. Andrew Lange got the last six outs by facing the minimum number of batters.

The second contest also featured two first-inning runs by the Yellowjackets. Jeff Miller tallied a run-scoring single before Veith hit a sacrifice fly. Miller then crushed a two-run double to left field that made it a 4-0 score in the second inning.

After Fairbanks hit a solo home run in the third inning, UW-Oshkosh got its offense going. Michael Swift (Fr. • Kenosha) singled and later scored on an error. Brock Guetzke (Jr. • Hartford) ripped another single to cut the Titans' deficit to 5-2. UW-Oshkosh pulled within 5-3 on a Tyler Kamps (Jr. • Appleton) double in the seventh inning, but it would get no closer.

Cody Johnson shut the door with three innings of one-hit relief. The save was his second of the weekend series. Dan Genrich posted the win, surrendering one earned run with four strikeouts in six innings of work. Guetzke received the loss after allowing five runs and seven hits during the first three innings. Mrkvicka entered and tossed four shutout innings before giving way to Matt Wells (Jr. • Little Chute) in the eighth.

The Titans were led by three hits from Polcyn and two by Swift during the doubleheader. The Yellowjackets got three hits each from four players in the twin bill, including Jeff Miller who had three hits and three runs batted in during the nightcap.

UW-Oshkosh travels for a battle with UW-Whitewater (9-4) on Thursday (April 5).

Both teams capitalized on wild pitches and passed balls as UW-Oshkosh and UW-Superior split a baseball doubleheader on Saturday (March 31) at Tiedemann Field. It was the conference opener for both squads.

The Yellowjackets (10-7/1-1 WIAC) used two wild pitches in the ninth inning to grab a 2-1 victory in the opener. The nightcap required 11 innings, as the Titans (5-8/1-1 WIAC) scored the winning run when Brock Guetzke (Jr. • Hartford) touched home on a passed ball.

Game one saw UW-Superior take a 1-0 lead in the fourth on a single by Rob Veith. Another runner tried to score on the hit, but Guetzke threw him out at the plate. UW-Oshkosh tied the score in the fifth inning when Luke Gajewski (Fr. • Wausau) walked and later scored on a wild pitch.

After three scoreless innings, UW-Superior tallied its winning run in the top of the ninth inning. The Yellowjackets' Wyatt Soderquist reached first base on a fielder's choice, went to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a passed ball. He then raced home on another wild pitch to give his team a 2-1 lead.

UW-Oshkosh had two men on base during the bottom of the ninth inning, but Derek Layton (Jr. • Cross Plains) grounded out to end the contest.

Luke Westphal (Sr. • Clintonville) took the complete-game loss for the Titans. He struck out 11 batters while allowing four hits and two unearned runs.

Mike Swanson pitched the first 8.2 innings for UW-Superior. He earned the win after allowing just three hits and one run. Cody Johnson got the save after retiring Layton on the ground out.

UW-Superior's Tom Fairbanks led all players with three hits on the day. During the fourth inning of game two, he belted a two-run single to put the Yellowjackets ahead. UW-Superior increased its margin to 3-0 on a Titan fielding error.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Gajewski reached safely on an infield single for UW-Oshkosh’s first hit. Following a run-scoring fielder's choice by Layton, the Titans cut their deficit to 3-2 on a Brock Guetzke (Jr. • Hartford) infield single.

Layton walked to open the eighth inning. He then advanced on a single from Kamps. With two outs, Kyle Van Abel (Sr. • Kaukauna) executed a perfect bunt single to score Layton and tie the score at 3.

The Titans’ 11th inning was jump-started by a UW-Superior throwing error. Guetzke moved from first to third base with a sacrifice and Trey Demler’s (Fr. • Oshkosh) single. Guetzke then scored on a passed ball to make a winner of pitcher Matt Wells (Jr. • Little Chute). Wells held the Yellowjackets scoreless over the final three innings. He relieved James Lacy (So. • Shawano) who allowed just three runs and four hits during the first eight innings.

Ethan Branum tossed the opening 7.2 innings and allowed one earned run for UW-Superior. Bobby Tyndall gave up one unearned run during his 2.2 innings to take the loss.

UW-Oshkosh and UW-Superior will play another doubleheader on Sunday (April 1) at Tiedemann Field.

The UW-Oshkosh baseball team is picked to finish third in the battle for the 2012 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship, according to a preseason poll conducted by the league's sports information directors.

UW-Stevens Point is favored to win this year's title after capturing last year's championship with a 20-4 record. The Pointers earned six of the seven first-place votes in the survey.

Predicted to follow UW-Stevens Point in the standings are second-place UW-Whitewater, third-place UW-Oshkosh, fourth-place UW-La Crosse, fifth-place UW-Superior, sixth-place UW-Stout and seventh-place UW-Platteville. UW-Whitewater gained the remaining first-place vote.

UW-Stevens Point enters this weekend's opening round of WIAC games as the ninth-ranked team in the NCAA Division III by D3baseball.com. UW-Whitewater is ranked 22nd in the poll.

UW-Oshkosh, which owns a WIAC-record 29 championships, returns six position starters and All-American pitcher Luke Westphal (Sr. • Clintonville) from last year's team that finished third in the league standings with a 13-11 record (25-14 overall).

Westphal posted a 7-0 record with a 1.34 earned run average last season. The batting order returns Tyler Kamps (Jr. • Appleton), who led the team with 38 runs batted in, and Kyle Van Abel (Sr. • Kaukauna), who hit a team-best .333.

UW-Oshkosh opens its conference schedule by hosting UW-Superior on Saturday (March 31) and Sunday (April 1) at Tiedemann Field.

Luke Westphal (Sr. • Clintonville) struck out seven while allowing two hits in UW-Oshkosh’s doubleheader split with Saint John’s University (Minn.) on Monday (March 26) in the Minneapolis Metrodome.

The Titans (4-7) used a pair of two-out rallies to support Westphal in a 4-1 opener victory. Saint John’s (12-6) received an offensive explosion and four Titan errors to capture the second contest, 10-3.

After two outs in the opener’s second frame, UW-Oshkosh drew a pair of walks. Michael Swift (Fr. • Kenosha) then delivered a run-scoring single. In the third, Tyler Kamps (Jr. • Appleton) doubled home another man to make it 2-0.

The Johnnies’ lone hits were a RBI single from Connor Cline during the fourth and a single by Josh Groth in the seventh. Derek Layton (Jr. • Cross Plains) gave the Titans their final margin with his two-run single during the seventh.

Ryan Spengler took the loss, giving up two earned runs in five frames. Hayden Zimmerman tossed the last two innings and yielded one ER with three strikeouts.

Game two began with Luke Larson’s two-run single, which was set up by a wild pitch and fielding error. The Titans came right back in the bottom of the first with runs on grounders by Kyle Van Abel (Sr. • Kaukauna) and Trey Demler (Fr. • Oshkosh).

Saint John’s scored five times during the second frame to break away from the 2-2 tie. Larson provided the big blow with a two-run triple to right field. Max Forster added a RBI double after two fielding miscues prolonged the inning.

Larson posted a run-scoring single during the fifth to finish the day with three hits and five RBI. Michael Polcyn (Fr. • Ripon) led all UW-Oshkosh players with three hits.

Titan pitchers recorded 13 strikeouts in seven innings, with Chad Wyss (So. • New Lisbon) providing seven in his three frames. Brock Guetzke (Jr. • Hartford) started and took the loss after surrendering five ER in two innings.

Cline threw five innings for the victory, allowing two ER on five hits. Joey Long then struck out three men and didn’t give up a hit during his two frames.

UW-Oshkosh opens WIAC play against UW-Superior on Saturday (March 31) at Tiedemann Field.

The longest baseball game in UW-Oshkosh history ended with a 1-0 victory for Saint Mary’s University (Minn.) after 14 innings on Sunday (March 25) in the Minneapolis Metrodome.

A run finally crossed the plate after 83 men were retired during three hours and 43 minutes. In the bottom of the 14th, Paul LaNasa singled for his fourth hit of the night. Two outs later, Andy Edholm marked an infield single that brought home the walk-off score.

The Titans (3-6) had their opportunities, with runners thrown out at the plate during the first, fourth and 11th frames. Derek Layton (Jr. • Cross Plains) led off the game with a triple, and the Cardinals (8-5) misfired on a cutoff throw. Layton tried to score but was cut down at home.

Saint Mary’s used LaNasa’s single and stolen base to threaten during the third inning. On a one-out single to left field, LaNasa was thrown out at the plate. The Cardinals then had the bases loaded in the fifth before striking out.

Each team used three pitchers in the epic battle. Tyler Krysiak earned the victory after going two innings. Teddy VanRanst started for Saint Mary’s, while Justin Kronebusch relieved, and both men fired six scoreless frames. Kronebusch retired 10 consecutive batters at one point.

Travis Sindles (So. • Twin Lakes) struck out four in 4.2 innings to begin the game. James Lacy (So. • Shawano) entered during the sixth and finished the contest, going 8.1 frames and allowing eight hits with five strikeouts for the loss.

Layton led all Titans with four hits, as Tyler Kamps (Jr. • Appleton) contributed three. The Cardinals held a 14-13 advantage in hits using two apiece from Mike Feriancek and Jon Schlemmer.

UW-Oshkosh ends its pre-conference slate against St. John's University (Minn.) on Monday (March 26) in the Metrodome.

Travis Sindles (So. • Twin Lakes) closed the night with five scoreless innings to give UW-Oshkosh one win during its doubleheader with Northwestern College (Minn.) on Monday (March 19) in the Minneapolis Metrodome.

The Eagles (6-6) rallied for a 5-4 walk-off victory in the first contest. After falling behind 3-0, the Titans (3-5) used great pitching from Sindles and three hits by Brock Guetzke (Jr. • Hartford) to pull out a 6-3 decision.

During the second frame of the opener, Trey Demler (Fr. • Oshkosh) ripped a single to score the first run. UW-Oshkosh then made it a 3-0 advantage with Guetzke’s RBI double and Kyle Van Abel’s (Sr. • Kaukauna) sacrifice fly in the third.

Northwestern, a first-time opponent for the Titans, tied the contest with one run in the third and two more during the fifth. Zach Markwith tripled home the first tally before posting one of two RBI groundouts.

Demler came through with a two-out single in the top of the sixth to give UW-Oshkosh a 4-3 lead. That margin remained until the bottom of the seventh, when the Eagles marked three singles and two walks. Andy Peterson’s infield hit scored Cody Kielsa to end the game.

Tyler Campion fired all seven innings, allowing nine hits, for the victory. UW-Oshkosh had Chris Terzic (So. • Antioch, Ill.) pitch 3.1 frames (one earned run) before James Lacy (So. • Shawano) hurled the last 2.2 and surrendered four earned runs for the defeat.

In the second contest, Northwestern gained a 3-0 cushion on a Titan throwing error and run-scoring singles by Kielsa and Monte Abeler. During the second frame, UW-Oshkosh used Derek Layton’s (Jr. • Cross Plains) single to pull within one. Following a trio of third-inning hits, Zachary Peterson (So. • Howard) smacked a two-run single to take the lead.

The Titans added two more runs in the fourth on a double by Michael Polcyn (Fr. • Ripon). Sindles then retired seven of the final eight batters to preserve the win. Chad Wyss (So. • New Lisbon) started for UW-Oshkosh and yielded three earned runs while recording five outs.

Andy Peterson took the loss, giving up four earned runs on 10 hits over four frames. Cory Larson entered the game and pitched two innings while allowing just one hit.

At the plate, Kielsa led all batters with five hits on the night. The Titans received four hits apiece from Guetzke and Polcyn.

UW-Oshkosh has two more opponents before conference play begins, taking on Saint Mary's University (Minn.) this Sunday (March 25) in the Metrodome.

Brock Guetzke (Jr. • Hartford) compiled four hits and the pitching victory as UW-Oshkosh split a doubleheader with St. John's University (Minn.) on Sunday (March 18) in the Minneapolis Metrodome.

UW-Oshkosh (2-4) jumped to an early lead and held on for a 5-2 victory during the opener. The Johnnies (11-5) then broke a sixth-inning tie on their way to a 4-2 nightcap decision.

After two groundouts to begin game one, the Titans got a double from Tyler Kamps (Jr. • Appleton). Guetzke delivered a single to left field for the 1-0 lead. UW-Oshkosh increased that cushion to 4-0 in the second inning when Guetzke raked another single and two runs scored on an error.

St. John’s did its only damage in the bottom of the fifth frame. Luke Larson posted a single and came home on Joey Long’s groundout. Aaron Pfaff marked a two-out RBI single to pull the Johnnies within 4-2.

UW-Oshkosh booked its final tally on Derek Layton’s (Jr. • Cross Plains) sacrifice fly during the seventh. Guetzke went 4-for-4 at the plate and got the win, allowing two runs over five innings. Matt Wells (Jr. • Little Chute) fired two scoreless frames for the save, while Hayden Zimmerman surrendered four runs (one earned) in six innings for the loss.

In game two, neither squad got its offense going until the third frame. Luke Gajewski (Fr. • Wausau) led off with a walk for the Titans before advancing on a stolen base and wild pitch. With two outs, he touched the plate on another wild pitch.

The Johnnies equaled the score at 1 when Long tripled and Charlie Perrine doubled during the fifth inning. In the sixth, St. John’s drew four walks that led to a pair of runs. The two men reached home on a Long single and a UW-Oshkosh error.

Kamps doubled to open the Titans’ sixth before coming in on Alex Mullendore’s (Sr. • Glendale Heights, Ill.) sacrifice fly. Long then pitched a 1-2-3 final inning to get the save for St. John’s University.

Connor Cline gained the win, yielding two runs with four strikeouts over six frames. Luke Westphal (Sr. • Clintonville) accepted the loss after allowing two runs with six strikeouts in 5.2 innings of work.

The Johnnies’ batting success featured two hits by Pfaff in the opener and two from Long during the nightcap. Layton counted two of the Titans’ five hits in the second contest.

UW-Oshkosh has another late-night twinbill with Northwestern College (Minn.) on Tuesday (March 19) at the Metrodome.

The University of St. Thomas (Minn.) struck out 20 batters to earn a doubleheader sweep over UW-Oshkosh on Tuesday (March 13) at the Minneapolis Metrodome. The Tommies (6-2) began the day ranked 23rd by D3baseball.com.

During the opener, Dylan Thomas fanned five straight Titans to preserve a 3-1 victory. Bryce Gapinski then tossed a complete game with 10 strikeouts and no walks during a 7-1 St. Thomas triumph.

UW-Oshkosh (1-3) got on the board first in game one. Following a Tyler Kamps (Jr. • Appleton) double, Alex Mullendore (Sr. • Glendale Heights, Ill.) executed a sacrifice bunt. Kamps came around to touch home on a throwing error for the 1-0 lead.

Single runs in the third, fourth and fifth frames were all that St. Thomas needed. The Tommies’ first score came on a defensive miscue, while Nick Reichert posted a run-scoring single to go ahead. A single by Ben Podobinski in the fifth inning plated the game’s final run.

Steve Maher got the win for St. Thomas after surrendering one unearned run over five innings. Thomas then recorded two scoreless innings for the save. The pitching loss went to Brock Guetzke (Jr. • Hartford), who booked six innings and yielded two earned runs.

Game two began with first-inning singles by Podobinski and Charles Bruchu. J.D. Dorgan then grounded out to put his team on top, 1-0. Dorgan added a run-scoring double in the third frame and came home on an error to make it a 3-0 margin.

Skyler Bohn (Fr. • Grafton) posted a single during the bottom of the third to start UW-Oshkosh’s comeback attempt. Another sacrifice set up Kyle Van Abel (Sr. • Kaukauna), who knocked a run-scoring single up the middle.

Bruchu added a two-run double in the sixth to complete the Tommies’ scoring-scoring hits. For the day, Podobinski led all players with five hits and four runs scored.

Gapinski got stronger as the game went on, marking nine strikeouts over the last four innings. The loss fell on Luke Westphal (Sr. • Clintonville) after he gave up four earned runs on 11 hits over six frames.

St. Thomas held a 6-3 advantage in hits during the opener and a 12-4 difference in the nightcap. The Titans received two total hits from both Kamps and Michael Polcyn (Fr. • Ripon).

UW-Oshkosh returns to the Metrodome for a meeting with St. John's University (Minn.) on Sunday (March 18).

UW-Oshkosh rallied with eight runs during its final two at-bats to finish 1-1 against Hamline University (Minn.) during the season-opening baseball doubleheader on Monday (March 12) in the Minneapolis Metrodome.

The Titans (1-1) scored nine unanswered runs to record a 9-3 victory in game one. During the nightcap, the Pipers (5-6) rallied from a 6-0 deficit to steal an 8-7 win. This was the first meeting between the two schools.

Hamline got two runs, including one from a Jordan Rubbelke single, during the opener’s second inning. The Pipers then upped their advantage to 3-0 on a wild pitch in the third frame.

Brock Guetzke (Jr. • Hartford) walked to lead off the Titans’ fourth. Following a pair of outs, Alex Mullendore (Sr. • Glendale Heights, Ill.) crushed a double to put his team on the board. UW-Oshkosh then obtained a 4-3 lead in the fifth inning thanks to Michael Polcyn’s (Fr. • Ripon) run-scoring double and a Hamline error.

Another fielding miscue by the Pipers jump-started the Titan offense during the sixth inning. Guetzke plated two runs with a single to center before Tyler Kamps (Jr. • Appleton) knocked home one with a triple. The final score of the game occurred on a Hamline error with two outs.

Matt Wells (Jr. • Little Chute) tossed 5.1 innings, allowing three runs and three hits, for the victory. Retiring five batters, Troy Mrkvicka (Sr. • Greendale) earned the save. Hamline’s Matt Mullendore took the loss after surrendering three runs in 4.1 frames, while Rannon Arch allowed four runs during his one inning on the mound.

UW-Oshkosh gained a 4-0 lead in game two with four runs in the third frame. Kyle Van Abel (Sr. • Kaukauna), who had three hits in the contest, drilled a RBI double for the first score. After a pair of Titans scored on groundouts, an error let in another run. Van Abel then blasted a two-run homer during the fourth inning to make it 6-0.

The Pipers marked two triples, including a two-run hit by Tyler Johnson, during their half of the fifth. Cam Smith counted a run-scoring triple and Andy King a sacrifice fly to pull Hamline within 6-5.

The bottom of the sixth inning began with Daniel Zurbey’s single. After loading the bases, the Pipers got hit by two pitches and walked to score three times and go ahead, 8-6. UW-Oshkosh could only muster one run in the seventh frame on Jake Dostalek’s (So. • Waterford) single.

Mrkvicka received the pitching loss after allowing three earned runs in 0.1 innings. James Lacy (So. • Shawano) was the Titan starter and went five frames while yielding five runs. Hamline starter Rob Miller allowed five runs over three innings before Dan Ellefson (win) recorded the final six outs and surrendered one run.

Smith went 4-for-5 in the doubleheader to lead the Pipers. Polcyn and Luke Gajewski (Fr. • Wausau) each posted three hits on the day for the Titans.

UW-Oshkosh has a twinbill against the University of St. Thomas (Minn.) on Tuesday (March 13) in the Metrodome.

UW-Oshkosh begins its 57th baseball season by playing a pair of NCAA Division III postseason qualifiers from a year ago.

The Titans meet Hamline University (Minn.) for a 5 p.m. doubleheader on Monday (March 12) and the University of St. Thomas (Minn.) for a 11:45 a.m. twinbill on Tuesday (March 13). All games will be played at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn.

Hamline University owns a 4-5 record after losing a 3-2, 16-inning marathon to NCAA Division I University of Minnesota on Wednesday (March 7). The Pipers, a first-time opponent of UW-Oshkosh, also split a doubleheader with UW-Stout on Feb. 27.

Last season, Hamline University compiled a 29-15 record and advanced to the regional round of the NCAA Division III Championship after winning the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Tournament.

The University of St. Thomas is ranked 25th in the NCAA Division III by D3baseball.com. The Tommies saw their record go to 4-2 with a split of a doubleheader with UW-Whitewater on Thursday (March 8). The University of St. Thomas also split a pair of contests with UW-La Crosse on March 5.

Last year, the University of St. Thomas tallied a 28-18 record, won its ninth straight MIAC title and qualified for the regional round of the NCAA Division III Championship. The Tommies, who are 10-10 against UW-Oshkosh, captured NCAA Division III titles in 2001 and 2009.

UW-Oshkosh returns 12 lettermen, including six position starters, from last year’s team that posted a 25-14-record and finished third in the WIAC. The top offensive returnee for the Titans is shortstop Tyler Kamps (Jr. • Appleton) and second baseman Kyle Van Abel (Sr. • Kaukauna). Kamps earned All-WIAC first team honors a year ago after hitting .325 with 15 doubles and 38 runs batted in. Van Abel hit a team-leading .333 with eight doubles and 12 runs batted in.

Highlighting the list of returning pitchers is left-hander Luke Westphal (Sr. • Clintonville). Westphal earned NCAA Division III All-America second team honors last season after registering a 7-0 record and a 1.34 earned run average in 60.1 innings pitched. The Titans, who claimed NCAA Division III titles in 1985 and 1994, return two other pitchers who started contests a year ago.