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).