Baseball gains Senior Day sweep over Lakeland

MEQUON, Wis. – Senior Joel Sharon saved one of his best performances at the plate for Senior Day. The outfielder drove in five runs in game two of a doubleheader sweep over Lakeland College Saturday at Kapco Park, helping lift the Falcons in the NACC standings. CUW won the two games by 9-2 and 13-1 scores.

Sharon (Milwaukee, Wis.) was dialed in during game two as he finished 2-for-4 with the five RBI. He added three hits and another RBI in the game one win. The Falcons totaled 26 hits in the doubleheader, while limiting the Muskies to 14 over the two games.

Sharon was one of six seniors who were honored between the two games on Saturday for their commitment and dedication to the Falcons program over the last four years. The other seniors on the 2015 roster are Tyler Adams (pitcher – Jackson, Wis.), Colin Bernreuter (pitcher – Frankenmuth, Mich.), Michael Klaver (pitcher – Germantown, Wis.), Brandon Seifert (infielder – Germantown, Wis.) and Michael Winter (pitcher – Cedarburg, Wis.)

The wins for the Falcons also moved them up to the No. 4 seed in the NACC Tournament, set for next Thursday through Saturday at Kapco Park. CUW will open tournament play against No. 3 Edgewood at 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 7. 

In the opening game, the Falcons scored three times in the fourth and four in the seventh, while adding runs in the fifth and sixth frames for the 9-2 victory. Sophomore Andrew Heideman (Bakersfield, Calif.) was impressive in picking up his fourth win as he struck out seven in seven innings of work. Heideman gave up seven hits, while allowing two earned before Josh Ruppel (Belgium, Wis.) came on for the final six outs of the game.

Sophomore Isaac Tewes (Chaska, Minn.) paced the Falcons offense in the opener, finishing 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored. Tewes belted a two-run home run in the seventh inning, while sophomore Bryan Thomas (Lowell, Ind.) added a solo shot to lead off the seventh. Freshman Dan Ranieri (Loves Park, Ill.) added two hits, while another rookie Nathan Thyssen (Appleton, Wis.) scored a pair of runs in the opener.

In game two, Lakeland trailed just 5-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning before the Falcons erupted for eight runs for the 13-1 final in seven innings.

Sharon had the big game with the five RBI but Thyssen was also impressive as he finished the contest 3-for-3 with a triple, his 10th of the season, a double and three runs scored. Freshman Michael Szeszol (Lake Bluff, Ill.) added two hits and two runs from the leadoff spot, while Seifert, Ranieri and sophomore Mitchell Dubnicka (Hartland, Wis.) each scored a pair of runs. Freshman Kyle Hilliard (Oak Forest, Ill.) added a 2-for-4, three-RBI performance for the Falcons.

The offensive output in game two was more than enough for starting pitcher Carter Buuck (freshman – Hillsboro, Ore.) as he tossed five shutout innings. Buuck allowed just three hits and struck out a pair before Joey Schuman (New Lenox, Ill.) came on for the final six outs. After Saturday's games Buuck now leads the NACC in ERA (1.59) and is tied for the lead in strikeouts (50).

CUW will be back in action in non-league play tomorrow against Carthage College. First pitch at Kapco Park is set for 1 p.m.