AUBURNDALE, Fla. (Mar. 9, 2024) - Fifth-year Jordan Mathewson started the late-game rally with his leadoff double in the bottom of the eighth inning which led to a five-run inning as the Buena Vista baseball team came from four runs down to post an 11-10 victory over UW-Oshkosh to close out its spring trip.

Mathewson's double was his only base hit of the contest but was a monumental one for him personally as he became only the fourth player in BVU history to reach 200 career hits. He moves with 23 of the all-time record of 223 set by Brandon Wessels (2013-16). Zach Pleggenkuhle entered the game as a defensive replacement to start the top of the inning made it back-to-back doubles to score Mathewson and make it a 10-7 contest. Freshmen Brandon Jenkins and Jake Eddie, along with junior Joel Garcia added RBI before senior Calvin Harris drove in the eventual game-winner with a sacrifice fly.

The Titans hit back-to-back solo home runs to begin the second inning  and added three more runs in the third to build a 5-0 lead. BVU chipped away at that lead in the fourth with four runs, including a two-run home run from fifth-year Grant Oseka. The Beavers then pulled even at 5-5 in the sixth after a sacrifice fly from Jenkins.

In a back-and-forth game down the stretch, UW-Oshkosh went back out in front 7-5 after two runs in the seventh only to have BVU get one of those back in the home half thanks to an RBI double from Drew Taylor. The Titans appeared in control after plating three insurance runs in the top of the eighth to make it 10-6.

After BVU's big five-run eighth inning that put the team in front for the first time on the day, Harris, who had come on to start the eighth inning, was able to shut down the Titans in order in the top of the ninth to close out the win. Harris was the fourth pitcher used on the day by the Beavers and pitched the final two innings, allowing three runs and two hits, but did strike out three.

Junior Morgan Smith got the start and was tagged with five runs and 10 hits over five innings, despite striking out a season-high 10 and walking only one.

Buena Vista had eight extra-base hits overall and pounded out 17 overall to edge the Titans who had 16. Garcia finished 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored while Drew Taylor matched him with three hits. Oseka, Jenkins and Eddie all followed with two base hits.

Nick Shiu, who hit one of the two home runs, went 4-for-5 with three RBI to lead the Titans (4-4) at the plate.

The Beavers go 4-2 on the trip and improve to 9-3 on the year. They next travel to Rock Island, Ill., on March 16 to play single games against both Augustana College (Ill.) and Dominican University. BVU and Dominican will then play a single game against each other to wrap up the trip on March 17.