The UW Oshkosh men’s baseball team went 2-1 this past weekend as it opened the season against Adrian College, Birmingham-Southern College and Transylvania University.
UWO won its season opener 8-4 over Adrian College on Friday in Birmingham, Alabama. Junior Logan Reckert led the way for the Titans as he drove in four runs for the team.
Reckert started things off for the Titans in the first inning with a sacrifice fly that scored junior Jack Paulson to make it a 1-0 lead. Sophomore Sam Schwenn contributed to the Titans’ score in the fourth inning as he singled to right field and drove in junior Taylor Grimm to make it a 2-0 UWO lead.
Schwenn and Paulson recorded a double-steal of second and third base before senior outfielder Johnny Eagan walked to load the bases. Reckert followed up with a bases-loaded double that scored three and would then score on a double hit by junior Andy Brahier that made it a 6-0 lead for UWO.
Sophomore Colan Treml got the win for the Titans as he struck out seven batters in five innings while only giving up one walk and three runs. Sophomore Jacob Pohlman pitched the remaining four innings and earned the save while only giving up one run and four hits.
UWO recorded six stolen bases in the game, three of which were contributed by Paulson. Schwenn, sophomore Jenson Hinton and Eagan each stole a base on Friday.
Adrian College scored two unearned runs in the fourth inning. Ryan Dorow, Hunter Hayes and Brian Guck each singled off of Treml to start the inning. Dorow came in to score on a fielding error by the senior third baseman Tyler Kozlowski. Hayes then crossed the plate on a groundout to narrow the gap to 6-2.
Guck added to the Bulldogs’ score by hitting a one-run single while Brian Killinger scored Ian Mikowski with two outs in the sixth inning.
On Saturday, nationally ranked Birmingham-Southern College defeated UW Oshkosh 6-3 in Birmingham. Birmingham-Southern College never trailed after getting off to a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
Schwenn had three hits, while Grimm and Reckert each recorded a hit in the defeat. Schwenn is hitting .462 with six hits and two RBIs already this season.
Schwenn said he has been focusing on his mechanics this year and attributes his success to hard work.
“The success comes from hard work in practice and keeping a level head during success and through failure,” Schwenn said. “I have been really focusing on the mechanics of my swing during practice so in-game I don’t have to think about my swing in the batter’s box, instead it will just come natural without having to think or make an in-bat adjustment.”
The Titans’ starting pitcher, sophomore Brendan Meissner was charged with the loss, yielding five runs and allowing six hits in five innings. In that time, he struck out six batters and walked four.
Oshkosh tied it at three with a two-out rally in the fifth inning after Schwenn singled and scored on a triple by Eagan. Reckert then drove Eagan home with a single to tie the score at 3-3.
A wild pitch by Meissner led the eventual game-winning score home as the Panthers went up 4-3. This concluded the night for Meissner on the mound.
Chris Atwood came in from the bullpen for the Titans and gave up a run-scoring single to the first batter he faced, pinch-hitter Wallace Schmuck.
However, Atwood responded by retiring the next three batters and getting out of a bases-loaded jam.
The Panthers scored one more run in the seventh inning to end the game with a 6-3 final score.
Paulson said they had opportunities to go ahead but couldn’t convert against a very talented team.
“We had many opportunities to take the lead with guys on base when the game was tied 3-3, so we need to improve on capitalizing offensively with runners in scoring position,” Paulson said.
On Sunday, the Titans concluded their trip in Alabama with a win over Transylvania University, 8-4. Senior Tyler Kozlowski led the way for UWO as the infielder had a pair of hits and recorded three RBIs.
The Titans achieved a season-high 14 hits, including five doubles, one each by Kozlowski, junior second baseman Noah Polcyn, sophomore Zack Radde and Reckert.
Eagan, Grimm, Reckert and sophomore Dylan Ott all added two hits for the team, while Paulson went a perfect 1-for-1 with a double, three walks, and two runs. The Titans laced five doubles, including one each by Kozlowski, Polcyn, Radde and Reckert.
Junior Jesse Sustachek started at pitcher for the Titans and earned the victory after allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out five batters in 6.2 innings. Titans’ relief pitcher junior Scott Gorsuch did not allow a single hit and dealt three strikeouts over the final 2.1 innings.
Transylvania scored in the opening inning with a one-out-single, but UWO answered as Paulson scored the tying run on a wild pitch from Pioneer starting pitcher Bryce Crader to make the score 1-1.
In the second frame, Polcyn drove in a run and scored off of an error to make the score 3-1.
Sustachek retired eight straight Transylvania University batters before allowing a single to Connor Blevins to open the fourth inning. Blevins scored on an error at shortstop by Paulson to make the score 3-2.
UWO had a big fourth inning as Kozlowski drove in runs from Ott and Paulson with a double in the fourth inning. Reckert and Schwenn hit back-to-back run-scoring singles to open the Titans lead to 7-2.
Coach Kevin Tomasiewicz said he was satisfied with his team’s performance this weekend.
“I am happy with where we are as a team right now,” Tomasiewicz said. “I think we played well for a team that had only been outside for a couple of days two weeks ago. All the teams we played had at least four or five games already played.”
Tomasiewicz said his teams have not always started out well, and he is happy with the positive start to the opening weekend.
“In years past we have not jumped out the starting blocks well,” Tomasiewicz said. “It feels good not to be chasing games after the first weekend.”
The Titans return to action against University of Massachusetts Boston on March 17 in Lake Myrtle, FL.
