No. 17 UW-Oshkosh Takes Two from UW-Platteville to Win Series

No. 17 University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh swept a doubleheader from host UW-Platteville on Sunday, 11-1 and 8-3 at Kendall Murray Field to take the opening series of WIAC play.

The Titans (12-1) got strong pitching in both games from starters Luke Westphal, who raised his record to 3-0 in game one and Troy Mrkvica, who improved to 3-0 in game two. Westphal went the distance for a complete game, struck out six, scattering six hits and allowed just one run. Mrkvica pitched seven innings, allowed just seven hits and struck out five for the win.With success on the mound, in both games, UW-Oshkosh hitters Nolan Fadness and Derek Layton each had two hits in both games and Tyler Kamps had two RBI.

UW-Platteville (2-10) junior Trevor Kattre had two hits in each game to lead the Pioneers, including a double and a triple. In game one, starting pitcher Mike Hooker went three innings, allowing seven runs and giving up five hits for the loss. In the night cap, Zach Ryan pitched four innings, giving up seven hits and four runs in the loss.

The Titans scored in each of the first four innings to build a 7-0 lead – three of which came in the second inning. UW-Oshkosh added to its lead after a triple by Derek Layton on a RBI groundout by Nolan Fadness.

UW-Platteville got a run back in the seventh when Brett Benesh doubled to left field to start the inning. He moved to third on a single to right field by Kattre to put runners on the corners. Next, Brad Milka drove in Benesh with a single to cut the deficit to 8-1. The Titans’ kept the Pioneers from rallying for more with a strike out and an inning-ending double play.

In its half of the seventh, UW-Oshkosh scored three more to complete a run-rule victory by an 11-1 margin. In the win, Fadness and Layton each had two hits and Tyler Kamps and Kyle Van Abel drove in a pair to lead the Titans.

In game two, the game was tied at 1 after two innings before the Titans plated three in the third for a 4-1 lead. In the inning, UW-Oshkosh got four singles to string together to score its three runs.

Facing a 4-1 deficit, the Pioneers mounted a threat in the seventh. Cody Luther walked to start the inning and after back-to-back fly outs, Kattre scored Luther with a triple to the gap in left center. He later came around to score when Benesh hit a ball to nearly the same spot to cut the lead to one, 4-3. However, the Titans got out of the inning with a strikeout. UW-Oshkosh answered the Pioneers’ threat in the seventh with three more runs and an additional run in the eighth en route to the 8-3 win.

Kattre and Aaron Hopson each had two hits for the Pioneers to lead an eight-hit effort. The Titans spread 14 hits among eight players, including a three-hit effort (two of which were doubles) by Tyler Kamps, who also had two RBI and scored a run. Nolan Fadness, Jake Dostalek, Derek Layton and Sean Grabig each added two hits.

Next, the Pioneers will travel to Menomonie, Wisconsin to face UW-Stout for a doubleheader on both Saturday, April 9 and Sunday, April 10.