St. Norbert six-run seventh costs Baseball in non-conference action

MEQUON, Wis. – A six-run seventh inning for St. Norbert College proved to be the difference as the Green Knights rallies past the Concordia University Wisconsin Baseball team Wednesday at Kapco Park. St. Norbert would score its six runs, three of those being unearned, off a pair of Falcons relievers, in the 7-5 win.

Besides the six-run seventh, shaky defense for both teams was a big story on Wednesday. Each team threw the ball around to the tune of four errors a piece as five of the game's 12 runs were unearned in the contest.

The contest started well for the Falcons as they built a 4-0 lead after four innings of play and took a 5-1 advantage into the seventh. That is where things unraveled as the Green Knights scored six runs on five hits, including two CUW errors to capture the 7-5 win. A bunt single by Spencer Larson gave St. Norbert the 6-5 lead, while Dan Neises, who had two hits from the ninth spot in the order, added an RBI single to make the score 7-5.

The Falcons plated their first run of the contest on an RBI groundout from freshman Justin Barney (Kenosha, Wis.) in the second and added two in the third on RBI from seniors Joel Sharon (Milwaukee, Wis.) and Brandon Seifert (Germantown, Wis.).

The fourth inning saw the Falcons go up 4-0 on a double steal by freshman Dan Ranieri (Loves Park, Ill.) and Barney, who stole home on the play. The Falcons ran early and often in the game, stealing six bases, including two by Seifert.

After a Tyler Banovich RBI single in the top of the sixth for St. Norbert, CUW would go back up four in the bottom of the frame on an RBI groundout by freshman Nathan Thyssen (Kimberly, Wis.). The 5-1 lead wouldn't last long as next was the six-run seventh for St. Norbert. Banovich led all players with three hits, while freshman Michael Szeszol (Lake Bluff, Ill.) had another two-hit attack from the top of the Falcons lineup to lead his team.

Junior Josh Ruppel (Belgium, Wis.) took the loss for the Falcons, despite allowing just one earned run in his inning of relief. Ruppel inherited a bases loaded, nobody out jam and finished the seventh inning for the Falcons. His final line read three runs surrendered, but just the one was earned as a shaky Falcons defense cost them in the seventh.

The Falcons used five pitchers in the game, including senior starter Tyler Adams (Jackson, Wis.). Adams was very efficient in his five innings of work, allowing four hits and striking out one while not issuing a walk. He used just 60 pitches in the game but was pulled in all likelihood to save him for a conference start this weekend.

Brendan Hermann picked up his second win of the season for the Green Knights after pitching 2.1 innings of scoreless relief. Herman walked one and struck out one, while giving up no hits in his time on the bump. Nate Schadrie earned the save after pitching 1.1 perfect innings to close out the win for St. Norbert.

CUW (10-12) will return to conference play Saturday with a home doubleheader against Rockford. First pitch from Kapco Park is at 12 p.m.