Kyle Kannenberg (Sr. • Oshkosh) allowed just one run and six hits in a complete-game effort as the UW-Oshkosh baseball team split a doubleheader with Bethany Lutheran College (Minn.) on Thursday (March 25) at Mall of America Field in Minneapolis, Minn.

UW-Oshkosh (5-5) held on for a 2-1 victory in the opener, while Bethany Lutheran College (9-3) scored all of its runs in the first four innings to post a 6-2 win in the nightcap.

In the first game, UW-Oshkosh counted both of its runs and two of its three hits in the third inning. Doug Beattie (Fr. • Escanaba, Mich.) led off the inning with a single and moved to third base on a Bethany Lutheran College fielding error. He later scored on a sacrifice fly by Troy Mrkvicka (So. • Greendale). One batter later, Nolan Fadness (Jr. • Eau Claire) stepped up to the plate and drilled a solo home run to deep right field.

Bethany Lutheran College, which left a runner on third base in each of the first four innings, was held scoreless until it pushed one run across in the seventh. The Vikings took advantage of a UW-Oshkosh passed ball and cut their deficit to 2-1 on a run-scoring single by Justin Schwecke.

Kannenberg picked up the pitching win after striking out four batters and leaving nine Bethany Lutheran College runners on base. The Vikings' Cody Hallahan suffered a tough loss after facing just 22 batters, four over the minimum. He struck out three batters and walked one while leaving two UW-Oshkosh runners on base.

UW-Oshkosh's other hit in the contest was a single by Derek Hiroskey (Jr. • Kimberly) in the second inning. Bethany Lutheran College's hit total included two by both Andy Jorges and Trent Sonnickson.

In the second game, Ben Smith doubled for the Vikings in the opening inning and scored on a single by Jorges. After the Titans failed to score after hitting back-to-back singles in the top of the second inning, Bethany Lutheran College upped its lead to 2-0 on a Travis Fisher double in the bottom half.

A UW-Oshkosh throwing error after Smith's third-inning single led to a pair of runs. Schwecke drove him in with a single and then stole second base. Following another UW-Oshkosh throwing error, Jorges lifted a sacrifice fly to give the Viking a 4-0 advantage.

Consecutive doubles by Hiroskey and Beattie put the Titans in the scoring column in the fourth inning. A walk and balk improved UW-Oshkosh's chances as Tyler Kamps (Fr. • Appleton) brought his team within 4-2 on a sacrifice fly. A groundout and strikeout looking prevented the Titans from scoring any more.

Bethany Lutheran College rapped back-to-back singles to open its two-run fourth inning. Following a stolen base and a catcher's interference, Smith laced a two-run single to give the Vikings a 6-2 lead. Luke Westphal (So. • Clintonville) then took to the mound for the Titans and retired three straight batters to prevent any further damage.

Westphal struck out four batters and held Bethany Lutheran College hitless over the last three innings. The Titans' pitching loss fell on starter Sean Grabig (Fr. • Howard) after he surrendered four earned runs on 10 hits in three-plus innings.

Ashton Dorris pitched a complete-game victory for the Vikings. He allowed two earned runs and nine hits while striking out six batters.

UW-Oshkosh's nine hits included two by both Blake Berger (Jr. • Star Prairie) and Nolan Fadness. Bethany Lutheran College's nine hits featured three by Smith and two by Fisher.

UW-Oshkosh kicks off its 2010 home schedule against Lawrence University on April 2 at Tiedemann Field.