Baseball sweeps Finlandia in non-conference doubleheader

MEQUON, Wis. – The Concordia University Wisconsin Baseball team cruised to a doubleheader sweep over Finlandia University Monday at Kapco Park. The Falcons belted out 19 hits in a 17-9 game one victory before winning the second contest, 9-1.

In the opener CUW came out strong scoring 10 runs over the first two innings. Sophomore Kyle Hegeman (New Berlin, Wis.) had a double in each of the frames and drove in three runs in the span, while freshman Buster Hebda (Firestone, Colo.) also had two hits and three RBIs to help the Falcons build a 10-0 lead.

Finlandia (1-13) would score four runs in the top of the fourth and even cut the lead to 11-6 after five innings but the Falcons put away any hopes of a comeback with six more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Hegeman hit his third double of the game in the sixth, this time driving in two more runs as he finished the opener with five RBIs, three doubles, and three runs scored.

Sophomore Joel Sharon (Glendale, Wis.) picked up his first win of the season as he pitched 5.1 innings, striking out two. Junior Ty Wester (Germantown, Wis.) picked up the save as he came in with the tying run on deck in the sixth inning and pitched the final 1.2 innings.

Hebda recorded three hits and drove in three, while scoring twice to help pace the CUW offense and junior Jay Kuczynski (Cedarburg, Wis.) stayed hot at the plate with a 3-for-4 game, scoring three times. Wester, senior Daniel Mueller (West Bend, Wis.), and freshmen Jimmy Doedens (Germantown, Wis.) and Jacob Boudreaux (Wauwatosa, Wis.) all added two hits.

The second game saw freshman Tyler Gross (Wauwatosa, Wis.) give a solid pitching performance as he earned his first collegiate victory. Gross pitched five innings, allowing just three hits and one unearned run, while striking out five. Sophomore Michael Winter (Cedarburg, Wis.) and freshman Eli Riddle (Blissfield, Mich.) pitched the sixth and seventh innings.

CUW (10-13) scored three runs in the first in the opener on four hits, but were also aided by three Finlandia throwing errors. Mueller added two hits in the second game and scored twice, while junior Beau Burgert (Oshkosh, Wis.) added a pair of hits as well. Kuczynski drove in two and junior Taylor Buuck (Hillsborow, Ore.) scored three times in the victory.

The Falcons will return to action Wednesday afternoon when they host St. Norbert College in a non-conference doubleheader at Kapco Park. Both games will be seven innings and first pitch is set for 3 p.m.