Baseball knocks off Carthage in non-conference play

MEQUON, Wis. – Great pitching, outstanding defense and some late timely hitting was the recipe for success Sunday as the Concordia University Wisconsin Baseball team defeated Carthage College, 4-1, in non-conference play at Kapco Park. The Falcons struck for two runs each in the seventh and eighth innings to rally past the Red Men for the three-run victory.

Senior Tyler Adams (Jackson, Wis.) picked up his fourth win of the season in delivering seven efficient innings on the mound for CUW. Adams needed just 72 pitches to work through seven frames and scattered six hits, while striking out one batter. He did not issue a free pass in the game.

It was then sophomore Dylan Gausman (Eagan, Minn.) who came on for the final six outs and his first save of the season. Gausman mowed through the Carthage lineup in his two innings, not allowing a baserunner, while striking out one batter. Gausman threw just 20 pitches as he and Adams combined for 92 total pitches, 64 of those for strikes.

The CUW offense finally got things going in the seventh inning as the Falcons had a runner on first and two outs, trailing 1-0. Freshman Dan Ranieri (Loves Park, Ill.) doubled down the leftfield line, setting the stage for freshman Michael Szeszol (Lake Bluff, Ill.). Szeszol delivered with a two-RBI single up the middle, plating Matt Schubert (West Bend, Wis.) and Ranieiri and giving the Falcons a 2-1 lead.

CUW (22-17) would add on to its lead in the bottom of the eighth when senior Joel Sharon (Milwaukee, Wis.), who led off the frame with a triple, scored on a wild pitch, making the score 3-1. Sophomore Isaac Tewes (Chaska, Minn.) would score the final run for the Falcons off an RBI single from freshman Nathan Thyssen (Appleton, Wis.) for the 4-1 final.

Ranieri and Sharon paced the CUW offensive attack as each player finished with two hits, while combining for the only extra-base hits of the afternoon for the Falcons. The teams combined for 16 hits but both pitching staffs worked quickly in the 1:47 contest.

Graham Wick posted the lone two-hit effort for Carthage as he added a double in the loss. Dalton Sjong pitched well in defeat for the Red Men, throwing seven innings and allowing just the two earned runs, while striking out four.

The Falcons will travel to face No. 3 UW-Whitewater on Tuesday in a final tune up before the NACC Tournament, which is scheduled to begin Thursday at Kapco Park. First pitch at Whitewater is set for 1 p.m.