Baseball edged by UW-Oshkosh in non-conference action

MEQUON, Wis. – After rallying from a 5-0 deficit to tie the score at 5-5, it looked as if the Concordia University Wisconsin Baseball team was in prime position to defeat UW-Oshkosh Tuesday at Kapco Park. Unfortunately the Titans had one final answer, scoring a run in the top of the ninth to secure a 6-5 victory over the Falcons in non-conference play.

The Titans ninth began with a controversial hit by pitch call that brought CUW manager Eddy Morgan out to ask for an explanation. The Titans leadoff batter, Jack Paulson, was still awarded first base via a hit by pitch and would advance to second on a balk, with no outs in the inning.

Paulson, who had two stolen bases in the game, then proceeded to third base on an errant pickoff throw, forcing the Falcons infielders in with nobody out and the go-ahead run on third base. Robbie Kleman would take advantage of the infield in as he hit what would have been a routine catch for the Falcons middle infield, but it fell between the infielders and center field for the 6-5 lead.

Junior Josh Ruppel (Belgium, Wis.), who came on after the Kleman single, would get CUW out of a jam. The first batter Ruppel faced singled and a wild pitch put runners on second and third with nobody out but Ruppel got the next UWO hitter to foul out with a double play to follow, allowing CUW to head into the bottom of the ninth trailing by just one.

Unfortunately the Falcons offense couldn't muster up much of a threat in the bottom half as they went down in order, allowing the Titans to win their eighth straight game.

The game was tied heading into the ninth thanks to a rally by CUW, which included three runs being scored in the bottom of the seventh. It appeared UWO was going to get out of the seventh unscathed but a passed ball on what would have been an inning-ending strike out kept the Falcons alive in the frame. Sophomore Isaac Tewes (Chaska, Minn.) took advantage with a two-RBI single, while freshman Noah Greenberg (Libertyville, Ill.) followed with a game-tying RBI single.

The Falcons also scored two runs in the bottom of the third thanks to some wild pitching from UWO. CUW had just one hit in the third, but the Titans walked three and hit one batter in the frame. Tewes had an RBI walk in the inning, as did sophomore Matt Schubert (West Bend, Wis.), making the score 5-2 after three complete.

The early part of the contest was all Titans as they scored one in the first and four in the third for a 5-0 lead. Andy Brahier roped an RBI double in the first inning, while four players drove in runs in the third. The Titans had five hits in the four-run inning, including an RBI bunt single from Tyler Kozlowski.

Tewes paced the Falcons offense with three RBI, while senior Joel Sharon (Milwaukee, Wis.) was the only player in the home team's lineup to finish with two hits. Kleman led the way for UW-Oshkosh with a 3-for-5, two RBI and two-run scoring performance.

Ryan Chancellor picked up the win for the Titans as both teams went deep into their bullpens Tuesday. Chancellor threw 2.1 innings of perfect relief, moving his record to 1-1 on the season. Freshman Mike Magdziarz (Frankfort, Ill.) was the pitcher of record for CUW, throwing two innings of relief and allowing one earned. Sharon started the game for CUW, pitching five innings, while senior Michael Winter (Cedarburg, Wis.) threw the sixth.

CUW (7-10) will return to conference play Saturday in a home doubleheader against Benedictine. First pitch from Kapco Park is set for 12 p.m.