Jordan Zimmermann and UW-Stevens Point had been in this situation before and looked like seasoned postseason veterans as the Pointers rolled to a 6-0 victory over UW-Oshkosh to earn their second straight NCAA Division III regional championship on Saturday in Wisconsin Rapids.

Zimmermann pitched six and one-third innings, allowing two hits and no runs, while also going three-for-five at the plate with two runs batted in to earn his second straight tournament Most Valuable Player award. Zimmermann, pitching on two day’s rest, did the same in last year’s title game and had 15 strikeouts to beat Ripon. He had 10 strikeouts and no walks against UW-Oshkosh to finish the tournament with 21 strikeouts and no walks in 14 and one-third innings, while improving to 9-0 for the season.

The win puts the Pointers back at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton for Division III World Series where they will face Ferrum (Va.) or Emory (Ga.) in an opening round game at 10 a.m. on Friday. UW-Stevens Point is now 32-15 overall and defeated UW-Oshkosh for the second straight weekend after handing the Titans a 9-2 setback in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament finals at the same field where the Pointers are now 21-4 over the past three years. The Pointers won four of six meetings this year between the league rivals.

Zimmermann was the story of the day, striking out all three batters in the first inning and seven of the Titans’ first 10 batters of the game. He also knocked in the game’s first run with a two-out single to left that scored Brad Archambeau.

UW-Oshkosh had both of its hits off Zimmermann in the second inning, but he got a popup to the pitcher to end the inning. The Titans had a chance to score in the fifth when Ryan Demmin was hit by a pitch and reached third base with two outs, however, Zimmermann got a fly out to keep the 1-0 lead.

UW-Stevens Point added to its lead in the sixth when Brandon Scheidler and Stewart Larsen singled to chase reliever Jeremy Rubens, who pitched three and one-third innings in relief of starter Adam Bretl. Brad Bolton entered in relief for the Titans and Ryan Byrnes blasted his first pitch deep to left center field for a three-run homer. The Pointers tallied another run in the inning on a run-scoring single by Tim Schlosser after a two-out error.

Zimmermann hit the first batter in the seventh and then got a fielder’s choice groundout before leaving the contest. Mike Thrun, who beat the Titans in last week’s conference final, came on in relief and got a strikeout and popout to end the inning. Thrun, who gave up seven runs in less than two innings in the Pointers’ miracle comeback win over Ripon on Friday, retired eight of the nine UW-Oshkosh batters he faced with four strikeouts.

Zimmermann added a run-scoring single in the eighth as the Pointers outhit the Titans 15-3 for the game. Larsen was three-for-four and was 10-for-16 in the regional to land all-tournament honors. The Pointers had six players with at least two hits.

UW-Oshkosh advanced to the championship game by defeating the University of St. Thomas, 5-4 in 11 innings.

Mickey Fadness hit a solo home run in the bottom of the 11th inning and also tied the game with a run-scoring single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to lift UW-Oshkosh to the victory.

UW-Oshkosh trailed 4-3 entering the final inning and had one out when pinch-hitter Andy Newbauer was hit by a pitch. Pete Berg then hit a line drive to shortstop for the second out and Bryan Schwebke followed with a ground ball to shortstop that looked to end the game, however, it took a bad hop at the edge of the infield grass and sailed over the shortstop’s head. Fadness fell behind in the count 0-2 and then ripped a single back up the middle to tie the game. Jason Fosler followed with an infield single, but the Tommies’ Will Montgomery worked out of the jam. Montgomery worked four and two-thirds innings, allowing six hits and just the one run. He pitched 14 and two-thirds innings over the past three days.

UW-Oshkosh turned to Brad Bolton in the 10th inning and he stranded one Tommies’ baserunner in the 10th before inducing St. Thomas’ fourth double play of the game in the 11th. St. Thomas brought in senior Riley Bosch in the 11th and he retired the first two batters, including a flyout to the warning track by Schwebke before Fadness’ homer to left center.

The game was scoreless until the fourth when Chris Bullis hit a run-scoring double for the Tommies and UW-Oshkosh answered with run-scoring singles by Mike Waupoose and Ryan Demmin off St. Thomas starter Erik Olson, who went five and one-third innings.

St. Thomas tied the game in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Dan Leslie following two straight passed balls for an unearned run off Titans’ starter Adam Roos, who gave up two earned runs over six and two-thirds innings. The Titans regained the lead in the bottom of the inning on a pinch-hit run-scoring single by Brock Wetenkamp.

The Tommies took the lead in the eighth following a strange development. Bullis led off the inning with a single, but then after an infield single by Leslie, rounded second base too far. UW-Oshkosh got Bullis out in a rundown and Leslie was able to make second on a close play. The Titans then ran a pickoff play at second and Leslie was safe again on a close call before Eric Fleming lined a double to put St. Thomas ahead.

Schwebke finished three-for-six for the Titans, who had 16 hits and used 19 of their 23 available players. Louie Salmen was three-for-five for the Tommies, who used 17 different players and beat the Titans 5-1 in the opening round of the tournament.

The UW-Oshkosh baseball team escaped one jam after another and edged St. Olaf College (Minn.), 5-4, in an elimination game of the NCAA Division III Wisconsin Rapids Regional held Friday (May 18) in Wisconsin Rapids.

UW-Oshkosh (34-11) turned double plays in three consecutive innings and stranded 14 St. Olaf College base runners, including two each in the final three innings to pull out the victory. The Titans will face University of St. Thomas (Minn.) on Saturday (May 19) at noon with the winner to play UW-Stevens Point (31-15) for the regional title at 3:30 p.m.

In the ninth inning, St. Olaf College (32-10) trailed 5-3 and had a leadoff double by Chris Terrazas. After two ground outs, Luke Gagnon hit a ground ball to shortstop, but the throw was dropped by Titans’ first baseman Brad Demmin (So. • Oshkosh), who had been hit in the eye by an errant pickoff throw earlier and left the game after the injury. Brian Astry followed with a run-scoring single to cut the lead to 5-4 and create intense moments for Titans’ reliever Brian Gerl (Sr. • Manawa), who recorded the final out for his national-leading 11th save.

UW-Oshkosh sprinted to a quick lead with a run on a sacrifice fly by Mickey Fadness (So. • Eau Claire) in the first inning and two runs in the second inning on a throwing error and run-scoring single by Kyle Johnsen (Fr. • Greendale). The Titans could have extended their lead even further, but Oles’ right fielder Andrew Schmiesing threw out a runner at third base for the third out of the second inning moments before a run would have scored and gunned another runner out at the plate in the third.

The Oles, who had leadoff hits in six of nine innings, scored single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, but had opportunities for more, hitting into double plays in each inning. Terrazas was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the fifth, but UW-Oshkosh extended its lead to 5-1 with two runs in the bottom of the inning as Mike Waupoose (So. • Keshena) had a run-scoring single and Derek Leighton (Fr. • DeForest) hit a sacrifice fly.

Jon Wadzinski had a run-scoring single for St. Olaf College in the sixth and the Oles loaded the bases with none out in the seventh, scoring only on a double play ground out. St. Olaf College even had runners at second and third bases with two outs in the eighth inning, but Gerl forced Schmiesing into a ground out to escape another jam.

Cal Stanke (Sr. • Menasha) worked five and two-thirds innings, allowing six hits and one earned run with five strikeouts for the win. Adam Bretl (Sr. • Sturgeon Bay) pitched one and one-third inning before being replaced by Gerl in the eighth. Gerl allowed one unearned run and two hits in two innings of work.

Andy Dimick took the loss for St. Olaf College, giving up 12 hits, but none after the fifth inning. Terrazas was three-for-four at the plate while Astry was three-for-five for the Oles.

UW-Oshkosh totaled 12 hits, including two each by Fadness, Waupoose, Pete Berg (So. • Janesville) and Bryan Schwebke (Sr. • Oshkosh).

Two-run home runs by Sam Spurney (Fr. • Manitowoc) and Mickey Fadness (So. • Eau Claire) vaulted the UW-Oshkosh baseball team to an early lead and an 11-5 win over the College of St. Scholastica (Minn.) in an elimination game of the NCAA Division III Wisconsin Rapids Regional held Thursday (May 17) in Wisconsin Rapids.

Spurney hit his blast in a three-run second inning and Fadness cleared the fence in a three-run third to give the Titans a 6-0 lead. UW-Oshkosh (33-11) advances to play St. Olaf College (Minn.) at 3:30 p.m. on Friday.

The College of St. Scholastica (36-8), which had one hit over the first four innings, opened the fifth with four straight singles from the bottom four batters in the order. Steve Gerten hit a run scoring single and Keith Ritsche scored on a wild pitch to cut its deficit to 6-2. The Saints were threatening for more runs with the bases loaded with none out, but UW-Oshkosh closer Brian Gerl (Sr. • Manawa) entered the game and forced a ground out and two short fly outs to limit the Saints to just one more run and keep the Titans' lead at 6-3.

The teams traded runs in the sixth as the Titans’ Kyle Kannenberg (Fr. • Oshkosh) hit a solo home run and Gerten added a run scoring single in the bottom of the inning, but the College of St. Scholastica stranded two more runners to trail 7-4.

UW-Oshkosh blew open the game with a three-run seventh inning following a two-out Saints’ error. Fadness, Mike Waupoose (So. • Keshena) and Ryan Demmin (Fr. • Oshkosh) all had run-scoring singles in the inning.

The College of St. Scholastica had four errors in the game and ended with 10 errors in its two tournament games after committing just 41 in its first 42 games of the year.

Fadness was three-for-four at the plate while Jason Fosler (So. • DeForest) was two-for-four with four runs scored for the Titans. Waupoose finished two-for-three at the plate with two runs batted in.

Ritsche, who pitched the final four and two-thirds innings in relief of starter Mark Erickson, led the Saints at three-for four at the plate. Sean Tracy, Seth Engberg and Gerten were all two-for-four as the College of St. Scholastica’s top four hitters in the lineup were a combined 0-for-17.

Gerl (5-3) pitched five innings and allowed five hits and two runs with three strikeouts to earn the victory. Jeremy Rubens (Fr. • New Franken) pitched the first four innings for the Titans before being replaced by Cal Stanke (Sr. • Menasha).

Bryan Johnson hit a two-run home run and Eric Fleming a two-run single as the University of St. Thomas (Minn.) baseball team defeated UW-Oshkosh, 5-1, in a first round contest of the NCAA Division III Wisconsin Rapids Regional held Wednesday (May 16) in Wisconsin Rapids.

The University of St. Thomas (33-10), which has won 12 of its last 13 games, advances to play Ripon College on Thursday (May 17) at 7 p.m. UW-Oshkosh (32-11) plays an elimination game against the College of St. Scholastica (Minn.) at noon on Thursday.

The Titans left nine on base, six in scoring position. They managed just one run with three doubles and a homer. The Tommies scored all five runs off two UW-Oshkosh relievers.

Riley Bosch got the win in relief for the University of St. Thomas as he pitched 5 and two-third innings and allowed just five hits and one run. Jake Kraemer gave the Tommies a huge lift as he started his first game in eight weeks and threw 3 and one-third scoreless innings.

UW-Oshkosh starter Adam Bretl (Sr. • Sturgeon Bay) limited the Tommies to three hits and no runs over the first four innings before Brad Bolton (Sr. • Phillips) took over a scoreless game in the fifth.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Titans had runners at first and third with none out against Bosch, but failed to score. The University of St. Thomas got a two-out single from Louie Salmen and then No. 9 hitter Bryan Johnson drilled a home run to right field off Bolton (3-3) for a 2-0 lead.

The Titans closed to within 2-1 in the eighth as Jason Fosler (So. • DeForest) hit a two-out, solo home run, but the Tommies extended their lead with three runs on three hits in the bottom of the inning, including a two-run single by Eric Fleming.

Bosch (7-3) set the Titans down in order in the ninth to finish a game that lasted just one hour and 53 minutes and improve to 7-3 for the season. Despite the outstanding pitching performances, the University of St. Thomas struck out just once and UW-Oshkosh struck out only three times.

Fleming was two-for-four for the Tommies, while Pete Berg (So. • Janesville) was two-for-three and Fosler two-for-four for the Titans. UW-Oshkosh's Bryan Schwebke (Sr. • Oshkosh) went hitless in four at bats to end his 22-game hitting streak.

A pair of six-run innings proved decisive in each game as UW-Stevens Point and UW-Oshkosh split a WIAC baseball doubleheader on Sunday (April 29) in Stevens Point.

The Pointers put up six runs in the eighth inning of the opening game to pull away for a 9-3 victory, while UW-Oshkosh scored six times in the fourth inning of the second game and held on for a 14-11 win.

The opening game was tied entering the bottom of the eighth when the Pointers loaded the bases with one out and Stewart Larsen singled to break the tie. Titans’ pitcher Adam Roos then attempted to pick off Larsen at first base and threw the ball down the right field line, allowing two runs to score. Joel Hojnacki followed with a run-scoring single and Brad Archambeau delivered a two-run single to finish the inning.

Each team scored single runs in the fifth and sixth inning and each had leadoff homers in the sixth as Jason Fosler homered for the Titans and Adam Evanoff tied the game at 3-3 the Pointers.

Brandon Hemstead worked eight innings and struck out seven to improve to 4-0 for the Pointers, who belted out 14 hits.

The Titans put five of their six runs on the board over the span of three pitches with three consecutive extra base hits off Pointers’ starter Travis Kempf. After scoring on an errant throw after a bunt, the Titans got a two-run double by Cory Hastings, a run-scoring triple by Peter Berg and a two-run homer by Bryan Schwebke for a 9-1 lead.

The Pointers rallied with a three-run fifth inning as Jordan Zimmermann beat out a slow grounder with two outs and nobody on base. Brandon Scheidler later had a run-scoring single and Tim Schlosser had a two-run double to cut the lead to 9-5.

UW-Oshkosh scored on a two-out, run-scoring single by Mickey Fadness in the top of the eighth and the Pointers answered with home runs on back-to-back pitches by Scheidler and Schlosser to open the bottom of the inning.

Brian Gerl, who pitched six innings on Saturday, entered the game in the eighth and allowed four runs in the ninth, but still set a WIAC single-season record with his ninth save. The Titans scored four runs after two outs in the top of the ninth, which proved essential after the Pointers’ Jordan Zimmermann hit a solo homer and Schlosser hit a three-run blast in the bottom of the inning.

Schlosser had a huge second game for the Pointers at four-for-five with three home runs and seven RBI’s. Zimmermann was three-for-five, while Berg led the Titans at four-for-five. UW-Oshkosh pounded out 18 hits and the Pointers had 16 hits in the second game.

UW-Stevens Point is now 21-14 overall and 12-6 in the WIAC, while UW-Oshkosh, which clinched the WIAC title on Saturday (April 28), is now 26-8 overall and 20-4 in the league.

After UW-Stevens Point edged UW-Oshkosh, 6-5, in an intense opening game, it was hard to believe the second game of Saturday’s (April 28) baseball doubleheader at University Field in Stevens Point would have more to offer.

However, the excitement of the nightcap managed to surpass the opener as the Titans held off a furious Pointers’ rally for a 14-13 win in 11 innings to capture their 28th WIAC title and first since 1999.

UW-Stevens Point still had title hopes entering the day, but will now play for the second seed in the upcoming WIAC tournament after dropping to 20-13 overall and 12-5 in the WIAC. UW-Oshkosh is 25-7 overall and 19-3 in the league. The Titans, ranked 12th in the NCAA Division III by the American Baseball Coaches Association, have won 19 of their last 22 contests.

The Pointers scored all six runs and had six of their eight hits in the first two innings of the opening game before hanging on until the final out. Brandon Scheidler hit a two-run single and Justin Bushong had a run-scoring double in a three-run first inning and the Pointers added three unearned runs in the second.

UW-Stevens Point pitcher Jordan Zimmermann allowed four runs over the first four innings, but then settled in and retired 10 straight batters until being chased after a leadoff single in the eighth. Zimmermann finished with 11 strikeouts and no walks over seven innings to improve to 5-0 for the season.

Matt Mehne forced the Titans into an inning-ending double play in the eighth and worked out of a ninth inning jam for his fourth save. Following a solo homer by Bryan Schwebke that cut the lead to 6-5 in the ninth, Brad Demmin singled, but was stranded at second to end the game. Demmin finished the game four-for-five with a home run.

The Pointers appeared to be in control of the second game with a 5-1 lead in the sixth and Mike Thrun cruising along on the mound. Adam Evanoff hit a three-run homer in the first and a Titans’ error led to two runs in the fourth. However, UW-Oshkosh struck for four runs after two outs and nobody on base in the sixth, taking advantage of two Pointers’ errors to tie the game.

Stewart Larsen broke the tie with a three-run homer off Titans’ ace reliever Brian Gerl in the seventh, but UW-Oshkosh responded in the eighth when Mike Waupoose launched a pinch-hit grand slam for a 9-8 lead. The Pointers forced extra innings as Zimmermann blasted a solo home run deep to left field with one out in the ninth.

UW-Oshkosh capitalized on two more UW-Stevens Point errors in the 11th and took the lead on a run-scoring single by Mickey Fadness before breaking out for five runs in the inning.

The Pointers responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame. Evanoff homered to lead off the inning, Bushong had a run-scoring infield single and Brad Archambeau delivered a two-run double to put runners at second and third.
However, Gerl forced a groundout to end the three-hour, 16-minute game.

UW-Stevens Point had 19 runs and scored eight runs in six innings off Gerl, who had only allowed four earned runs in 39 and two-thirds innings this season. Archambeau was four-for-seven, while Bushong was three-for-seven and Zimmermann was three-for-six. Six of UW-Oshkosh’s 14 runs were unearned as the Pointers had five errors.

Pitchers Jeremy Rubens (Fr. • New Franken), Greg Perlewitz (So. • Thiensville) and Ryan Demmin (Fr. • Oshkosh) combined to allow just two runs and eight hits as the UW-Oshkosh baseball team swept a doubleheader from UW-Superior on Saturday (April 21) in Superior.

UW-Oshkosh (21-5/15-1 WIAC) took the opener, 9-1, and the nightcap, 11-1 in seven innings. The Titans have won 15 of their last 16 games, with their lone setback being a 4-3 loss to UW-Platteville on April 14.

The first game was quiet until UW-Oshkosh tallied three runs on four hits in the fifth inning. The Titans scored their runs on a wild pitch and singles by Bryan Schwebke (Sr. • Oshkosh) and Brad Demmin (So. • Oshkosh). UW-Oshkosh went ahead 5-0 as Pete Berg (So. • Janesville) capped a two-run sixth inning with a run-scoring single.

UW-Oshkosh scored three runs on three hits in the seventh inning, including a two-run double by Mike Waupoose (So. • Keshena). The Titans extended their lead to 9-0 on a run-scoring double by Mickey Fadness (So. • Eau Claire) in the eighth inning.

UW-Superior (7-19/1-13 WIAC) scored its only run of the game on a sacrifice fly by Steve Basty in the ninth inning.

UW-Oshkosh compiled 13 hits, including four by Fadness and two by both Berg and Jason Fosler (So. • DeForest). The Titans left 12 runners on base, including three in the sixth inning and two in the third, seventh and ninth.

Sean Cummings had two of UW-Superior’s five hits. The Yellowjackets stranded five base runners, including two in the first inning.

Rubens (3-0) pitched seven scoreless innings to earn the victory for UW-Oshkosh. He faced only 25 batters, four over the minimum, and allowed just two hits while striking out four batters. Perlewitz tossed the final two innings for the Titans. He granted one run and three hits.

Reed Coil (1-5) pitched the first six innings for UW-Superior and took the loss after allowing eight runs and 12 hits. Steve Kleppen yielded one run and one hit while pitching the final three innings for the Yellowjackets.

In the second game, UW-Oshkosh jumped to a 1-0 lead on Brad Demmin’s sacrifice fly in the first inning. UW-Superior tied the score at 1-1 when Brett Olson crossed home plate on a passed ball in the second inning.

UW-Oshkosh broke the deadlock by scoring three runs on three hits in the fourth inning. The Titans scored on a home run by Fosler, a sacrifice fly by Derek Leighton (Fr. • DeForest) and a single by Kyle Johnson (Fr. • Greendale).

UW-Oshkosh increased its lead to 9-1 by scoring five runs on four hits and two UW-Superior errors in the fifth inning. The big hits in the inning were a run-scoring double by Brad Demmin, a run-scoring single by Fadness and a two-run home run by Leighton.

The Titans closed their scoring on Andy Newbauer’s (Fr. • Greendale) two-run home run in the seventh inning.

UW-Oshkosh registered 11 hits, including two by both Fadness and Leighton. The Titans left two of their three runners on base in the second inning.

UW-Superior managed only three hits. Among the hits was a double by Olson in the second inning. The Yellowjackets didn’t leave a runner on base.

Ryan Demmin (4-1) pitched all seven innings to record the complete-game victory for the Titans. He allowed just one unearned run and three hits while striking out five batters. Ryan Demmin faced only 22 batters, one over the minimum.

Bill Ryan (0-3) was the losing pitcher for UW-Superior. He started on the mound and pitched into the seventh inning before being replaced by Joe Collier. Ryan hurled six and two-third innings, allowing 10 runs, 10 hits and four walks.

One big inning in each game helped the UW-Oshkosh baseball team pull away and sweep a doubleheader from UW-Whitewater on Wednesday (April 18) in Whitewater.

UW-Oshkosh (19-5/13-1 WIAC) scored four runs in the ninth inning to win the opener, 7-3, and counted six runs in the sixth inning to take the nightcap, 10-1. The doubleheader sweep was UW-Oshkosh’s first at UW-Whitewater since 1999.

UW-Whitewater (12-10/5-5 WIAC) jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning of the first game as it scored runs on a double by Thomas Corcoran and an infield ground out by Matt Schliewe.

UW-Oshkosh tied the score in the fourth inning by getting a run-scoring double from Brad Demmin (So. • Oshkosh) and a run-scoring single from Mickey Fadness (So. • Eau Claire).

UW-Whitewater took a 3-2 lead with an unearned run in the fifth inning, but the Warhawks’ advantage evaporated when UW-Oshkosh’s Sam Spurney (Fr. • Manitowoc) hit a run-scoring single in the sixth.

The score remained 3-3 until UW-Oshkosh tallied four runs on five hits in the ninth inning. UW-Oshkosh separated itself from UW-Whitewater on run-scoring doubles by Derek Leighton (Fr. • DeForest) and Jason Fosler (So. • DeForest) and run-scoring singles by Demmin and Bryan Schwebke (Sr. • Oshkosh).

UW-Oshkosh smacked 10 hits, including three by Fadness and two by Demmin. The Titans left seven runners on base, including two in the sixth and seventh innings.

UW-Whitewater was limited to five hits, including two by Corcoran. The Warhawks left nine runners on base, including two in the fourth and seventh innings.

Adam Roos (Sr. • Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada) started on the mound for the Titans and allowed three runs and four hits in six innings of work. Brad Bolton (Sr. • Phillips) held the Warhawks scoreless during the seventh and eighth innings to earn the win. Bolton (2-1) allowed just one hit and faced only eight batters, two over the minimum. Brian Gerl (Sr. • Manawa) pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the Titans.

Mike Jacobson (4-2) took the pitching loss for UW-Whitewater. He pitched eight and two-third innings as the starter and allowed five runs and seven hits. Greg Donovan hurled one-third of an inning and allowed two runs and three hits.

UW-Whitewater scored its only run of the first game on an infield ground out by Corcoran in the first inning.

From there it was all UW-Oshkosh as the Titans scored once in the fourth inning, three times in the fifth and six times in the sixth while holding UW-Whitewater scoreless.

UW-Oshkosh tied the score at 1-1 on Leighton’s run-scoring single in the fourth inning. The Titans went ahead 4-1 by getting a run-scoring single by Fadness and a two-run single by Andy Newbauer (Fr. • Greendale) in the fifth inning.

UW-Oshkosh exploded for six runs on three hits and one UW-Whitewater error in the sixth inning. The Titans

The UW-Oshkosh baseball team stumbled for the first time in WIAC play as it exchanged one-run victories with UW-Platteville on Saturday (April 14) at Tiedemann Field.

Matt Paulus helped UW-Platteville (7-10-1/1-4 WIAC) post a 4-3 win in the opener by knocking in the decisive run with a two-out double in the top of the ninth inning. Mickey Fadness (So. • Eau Claire) spirited UW-Oshkosh’s (15-5/9-1 WIAC) 2-1 victory in the nightcap by driving in the winning run with a one-out single in the bottom of the eighth inning.

UW-Platteville jumped to a 3-0 lead in the opener by scoring twice in the first inning and once in the third. The Pioneers had three of their five hits in the first inning, including run-scoring singles by Nick Alpin and Mike Kuhn. UW-Platteville scored its third run of the contest on a single by Steve Bomkamp.

UW-Oshkosh sliced its deficit to 3-2 by scoring twice in the sixth inning. The Titans scored runs on a ground out by Mike Waupoose (So. • Keshena) and a single by Derek Leighton (Fr. • DeForest).

UW-Oshkosh left a runner on third base in the seventh inning, but tied the score at 3-3 on a throwing error by UW-Platteville’s Corey Connolly in the eighth. Brad Demmin (So. • Oshkosh) scored the tying run after hitting a one-out double earlier in the inning.

UW-Platteville’s first batter in the ninth inning struck out. Aaron Ciaburri then reached second base on a throwing error by UW-Oshkosh’s Leighton and later moved to third on a passed ball. The Pioneers had another batter strikeout before Paulus doubled to left field to score Ciaburri for the winning run.

UW-Oshkosh had seven hits in the contest, including two by Jason Fosler (So. • DeForest). UW-Platteville, which registered only one hit after the third inning, had five players record one hit each.

Adam Roos (Sr. • Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada) pitched the first six innings for UW-Oshkosh. He allowed four hits and three runs and struck out eight batters. Brian Gerl (Sr. • Manawa) took the pitching loss despite giving up just one hit and no earned runs in three innings of work. Gerl (3-2) struck out three of the 12 batters he faced.

UW-Platteviille sent three players to the mound, including Connolly who recorded the win and Jay Lindner who tallied the save. Connolly (1-0) allowed one hit and one unearned run while pitching the seventh and eighth innings. Lindner retired three of the four batters he faced in a hitless ninth inning. Kyle Mack was the starting pitcher for the Pioneers. He hurled six innings and allowed six hits and two runs.

The nightcap was a pitching duel between UW-Oshkosh’s Adam Bretl (Sr. • Sturgeon Bay) and UW-Platteville’s Joe Lange. Both pitchers went the distance, with Bretl (4-1) earning the win after yielding just four hits and one run in nine innings of activity. Lange (1-3) suffered the loss despite allowing six hits and two unearned runs in eight innings of service. Bretl, who retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced, recorded 10 strikeouts and Lange seven.

Ross Bennett gave UW-Platteville a quick 1-0 lead by belting a home run in the first at bat of the game. The Pioneers had only three hits after Bennett’s blast, a single by Bomkamp in the fourth inning, a double by Jacob Bandy in the fifth and a single by Scott Dybevik in the seventh.

UW-Oshkosh was scoreless until it counted two runs on three hits and one UW-Platteville error in the eighth inning. Andy Newbauer (Fr. • Greendale) started the inning for the Titans with a double. He then scored from second base in the next at bat as a bunt single by Leighton was thrown away by UW-Platteville’s Lange. Following two strikeouts and a walk to Demmin, Fadness smacked a single up the middle to score Leighton from second base.

UW-Oshkosh had six hits in the game, including two each by Leighton and Newbauer, as it defeated UW-Platteville for just the fourth time in 11 meetings.

Cory Hastings (Fr. • Menomonie) singled in the winning run in both games as the UW-Oshkosh baseball team posted a pair of narrow victories over UW-La Crosse on Tuesday (April 10) at Tiedemann Field.

UW-Oshkosh (14-4/8-0 WIAC) won the opener, 2-1, and the nightcap, 5-4 in 10 innings, to sweep a doubleheader from UW-La Crosse (11-8/4-4 WIAC) for the second consecutive day. The Titans recorded wins of 2-0 and 6-2 over the Eagles on Monday (April 9).

In the opener, Hastings provided all of UW-Oshkosh’s scoring by hitting a two-run single in the second inning. UW-Oshkosh maintained its 2-0 advantage until UW-La Crosse’s Lance Poppy hit a run-scoring single in the seventh inning.

UW-Oshkosh had only six hits in the contest, but two of them belonged to Jason Fosler (So. • DeForest). The Titans left seven runners on base, including two in the fifth inning.

Sean Cory, Travis Kerr and Andy Podmolik had two hits each as UW-La Crosse totaled seven. The Eagles left six runners on base, including one in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth innings. Cory ended the eighth inning on third base after hitting a double and advancing on a steal.

UW-Oshkosh’s Brad Bolton (Sr. • Phillips) navigated his way through six scoreless innings before being relieved by Brian Gerl (Sr. • Manawa) in the seventh. Bolton (1-1) earned the win by allowing just five hits and one run in six and two-third innings. Gerl allowed his inherited runner to score, but kept the Eagles scoreless the rest of the way to record his fifth save of the year. Gerl yielded two hits and struck out two batters in two and one-third innings of work.

Ross Benitz (2-1) was the losing pitcher for UW-La Crosse. He pitched the first seven innings and allowed five hits and two runs while striking out two batters. Mike Brehm pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the Eagles.

UW-La Crosse scored three runs in the first inning of the nightcap to match its run total for the first three games in the series. The Eagles grabbed their early advantage on three hits and one UW-Oshkosh error, including a run scoring single by Storm Gram.

UW-Oshkosh answered in a hurry in the bottom of the first inning on Mike Waupoose’s (So. • Keshena) run-scoring single and Derek Leighton’s (So. • Deforest) run-scoring bunt down the third base line.

UW-Oshkosh went ahead 4-3 by scoring two runs on three hits and one UW-La Crosse error in the third inning. Brad Demmin (So. • Oshkosh) drove in one run for the Titans with a ground out while another scored on a UW-La Crosse error.

Both offenses were quiet until UW-La Crosse tied the score at 4-4 on Gram’s run-scoring fielder’s choice in the eighth inning. The Eagles loaded the bases with nobody out in the inning, but managed only one run.

UW-Oshkosh won the game in the 10th inning. Waupoose led off the inning with a double and was replaced on the base paths by Casey Mumper (So. • Kewaunee). Following a bunt single by Leighton that advanced Mumper to third base, Hastings belted a single to deep left field that scored the game’s winning run.

UW-Oshkosh banged out 12 hits, including three by both Demmin and Leighton and two by Waupoose, as it defeated UW-La Crosse for the 49th time in 65 meetings. The Titans left 11 runners on base, including two in the first, third and 10th innings.

UW-La Crosse had eight hits, including two by Podmolik. The Eagles left five runners on base, including one in the eighth, ninth and 10th innings.

Gerl (3-1) entered the game in the eighth inning and pitched the final three periods to earn the win. He held the Eagles scoreless by allowing just two hits. Jeremy Rubens (Fr. • New Franken) pitched the first seven innings after surviving a rocky start. He yielded six hits and three earned runs while striking out two batters.

Britton Wolf (1-1) pitched a complete game for UW-La Crosse and took the loss. He allowed 12 hits and just two earned runs while striking out two batters.

The victory in the opener was the 1,200 in the 52-year history of the UW-Oshkosh baseball program. The Titans own a 1,201-426-4 all-time record after their four-game sweep of UW-La Crosse.

Kyle Kannenberg (Fr. • Oshkosh) provided the heroics while three of his teammates combined to limit UW-La Crosse to just two runs and eight hits as UW-Oshkosh swept a baseball doubleheader from the Eagles on Monday (April 9) at Tiedemann Field.

UW-Oshkosh (12-4/6-0 WIAC), playing in its home opener, won the first game, 2-0, and the second contest, 6-2. The first game was delayed 50 minutes in the ninth inning due to snow.

In the opener, Kannenberg was the hitting star for the Titans as he broke a scoreless debate by belting a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Kannenberg’s first collegiate home run came two at bats after Cory Hastings (Fr. • Menomonie) lined a one-out single.

UW-Oshkosh had just five hits in the contest and left eight runners on base. The Titans’ other hits were a double by Mickey Fadness (So. • Eau Claire) in the first inning, a double by Brad Demmin (So. • Oshkosh) in the sixth and a single by Derek Leighton (Fr. • DeForest) in the seventh.

UW-La Crosse (11-6/4-2 WIAC) managed only two hits while leaving four runners on base. The Eagles left two runners on base in the seventh inning. UW-La Crosse’s hits were a double by Storm Gram in the first inning and a single by Darren O’Donnell in the fifth.

Both starting pitchers hurled eight scoreless innings. UW-Oshkosh’s Adam Roos (Sr. • Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada) faced 28 batters and allowed just two hits while striking out 11 batters before being relieved by Brian Gerl (Sr. • Manawa) in the ninth inning. UW-La Crosse’s Justin Sokol greeted 32 batters and yielded just three hits while striking out three batters before being replaced by Greg Gibson in the ninth inning.

Gerl (2-1) picked up the pitching victory for the Titans by retiring all three batters he faced in the ninth inning. Gibson (2-1) took the pitching loss for the Eagles after allowing two hits and two runs while getting just two outs in the ninth inning.

UW-Oshkosh jumped to a 6-0 lead in the second game as it scored twice in the first inning, three times in the third and once in the fourth.

Demmin drove in two of the Titans’ six runs by hitting a run-scoring double in the first inning and a run-scoring single in the fourth. The Titans also received a run-scoring single by Jason Fosler (So. • DeForest) in the first inning.

UW-La Crosse cuts its deficit to 6-2 by scoring twice in the seventh inning. The Eagles counted their runs after getting a double by Sean Cory, a single by Storm Gram and a run-scoring single by Mike Schmidt. UW-La Crosse’s second run crossed home plate on Dusty Otto’s fielder’s choice.

UW-Oshkosh banged out 11 hits in the nightcap, including four by Demmin. The Titans had Fosler, Kannenberg and Bryan Schwebke (Sr. • Oshkosh) record two hits each.

Andy Podmolik had two of UW-La Crosse’s six hits. Podmolik’s single in the first inning was his school-record 200th career hit.

Adam Bretl (Sr. • Sturgeon Bay) pitched all nine innings to earn the complete-game victory for UW-Oshkosh. He scattered six hits while allowing two runs and striking out six batters. Bretl (3-1) faced just one batter over the minimum during his first six innings of work.

Jake Beitlich (1-1) took the pitching loss for UW-La Crosse. He went four innings and allowed six hits and four runs with one strikeout. Luke Zurbriggen pitched the final four innings and didn’t allow a run while surrendering five hits.

The UW-Oshkosh baseball team staged a ninth-inning rally in the first game and totaled 21 hits in the second as it opened WIAC play with a doubleheader sweep of UW-Stout on Sunday (April 1) in Menomonie.

UW-Oshkosh (8-4/2-0 WIAC) pulled out a 6-5 win in the opener by scoring four runs in the top of the ninth inning. The Titans then exploded for a 20-8 victory in the nightcap.

UW-Oshkosh sent 10 batters to the plate in the ninth inning of the opener as it overcame a 5-2 deficit. The Titans had six hits in the period, including run-scoring doubles by Bryan Schwebke (Sr. • Oshkosh) and Mike Waupoose (So. • Keshena) and run-scoring singles by Mickey Fadness (So. • Eau Claire) and Brad Demmin (So. • Oshkosh).

UW-Stout (8-7/0-2 WIAC) took a quick 1-0 lead on Seth Maier’s solo home run in the first inning. The Blue Devils added another run in the second inning before the Titans tied the score with two runs in the third. UW-Oshkosh had three hits in the third inning, including a run-scoring single by Jason Fosler (So. • DeForest).

UW-Stout went ahead 3-2 on Maier’s sacrifice fly in the fifth inning. The Blue Devils increased their advantage to 5-2 on a run-scoring single by Ryan Stace and a sacrifice fly by Greg Smolinski in the eighth inning.

UW-Oshkosh totaled 14 hits in the contest as Fadness, Schwebke and Derek Leighton (Fr. • DeForest) led the Titans with three hits each. UW-Stout compiled nine hits, including three by Maier and two by both Matt Krause and Tim Schneider.

UW-Oshkosh’s Adam Roos (Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada) pitched the first eight innings of the game to earn the victory. Roos (3-0) scattered nine hits while allowing four earned runs and striking out four batters. Brian Gerl (Sr. • Manawa) retired all three batters he faced in the ninth inning to record the save for the Titans.

Ben Sievertson (2-2) pitched the ninth inning for UW-Stout and took the loss after allowing three hits and one run. Rob Heller pitched the first six innings for the Blue Devils before being replaced by Matt Doornink in the seventh. Heller allowed eight hits and two runs, while Doornink yielded three hits and three runs.

In the second game, UW-Oshkosh scored three or more runs in four of the nine innings played. The Titans counted six runs on three hits in the second inning, four runs on three hits in the third, three runs on five hits in the eighth and five runs on six hits in the ninth.

UW-Stout grabbed an early 2-0 lead when Erik Johnson belted a two-run home run in the first inning. UW-Oshkosh erased its deficit by scoring six runs in the second inning, including three on a triple by Fosler and two on a single by Paul Pulera (Fr. • Kenosha).

UW-Oshkosh scored four runs in the third inning to increase its lead to 10-3. The inning featured a run-scoring single by Leighton and a sacrifice fly by Fosler. The Titans expanded their advantage to 12-4 on Cory Hastings’ (Fr. • Menomonie) two-run home run in the sixth inning.

UW-Stout closed its deficit to 12-8 by scoring once in the sixth inning and three times in the seventh. The Blue Devils received a solo home run from Maier in the sixth inning and a two-run home run from Mike White in the seventh.

UW-Oshkosh ended UW-Stout’s comeback bid by scoring three runs in the eighth inning and five runs in the ninth. Sam Spurney (Fr. • Manitowoc) accounted for five of those runs by belting a two-run home run in the eighth inning and a three-run home run in the ninth. The Titans also received a solo home run from Schwebke in the eighth inning.

UW-Oshkosh smacked 21 hits in the game, including 11 in the last two innings. Demmin, Fosler, Pulera and Spurney had three hits each to lead the Titans. UW-Stout totaled eight hits, including two by both Johnson and Tim Schneider.

Adam Bretl (Sr. • Sturgeon Bay) started on the mound for UW-Oshkosh and pitched six and two-third innings to record the victory. Bretl (2-1) allowed seven hits and four earned runs while striking out three batters. Gerl yielded just one hit while pitching the final two and one-third innings for the Titans.

UW-Stout had six players throw pitches, including starter Dan Olson who took the loss after going only three innings. Olson (0-4) gave up six hits, four walks and 10 runs.