Baseball Splits Sunday Action

TUCSON, Ariz. –  In their first spring break action, the CUW baseball team battled in two close contests, suffering a slim 9-8 defeat to Schreiner University in game one before bouncing back to take the 7-6 win on a sacrifice fly in game two over St. Olaf College. 

Game one saw the Mountaineers of Schreiner University strike first and build a solid 7-0 lead after five innings of play. 

But the Falcons showed no quit and, in the bottom of the sixth, put up five runs to cut Schreiner's lead to just two. 

With runners on third and first, sophomore Matt Miller (Fredonia, Wis.) doubled into the gap to bring in junior Kyle Flynn (Nashville, Tenn.) from third. 

Later in the inning, junior Brynden Cleveland (Crestwood, Ill.) singled through the left side to bring senior Jimmy Juergensen (Cedarburg, Wis.) across the plate. 

The third run of the inning came courtesy of senior Cole Aguirre (Chino Hills, Calif.), who batted in Miller following a single to center field. 

Senior Jack Owens (Chicago, Ill.) capped off the inning with a single to left center to bat in junior Owen Burns (Morris, Ill.) and sophomore Drake Grod (Mosinee, Wis.) from third and second. 

After a quick top of the inning, the bottom of the seventh saw the Blue and White knot the game up at 7-7. 

To start the inning, Kyle Flynn singled to left field. Flynn then reached second base after a wild pitch and to third after tagging up on a fly out to left field. 

Matt Miller then recorded a sacrifice fly RBI to score Flynn and scratch another run for CUW, putting the score at 6-7.  

Then, with two outs and runners on second and first, sophomore Tyler Murray (Kankakee, Ill.) drove a ball opposite field to score the tying run. 

But the Mountaineers would mount a response in the top half of the eighth inning as they reestablished as the score sat 9-7 in their favor.

After a scoreless bottom of the eighth inning and a quick top of the half inning behind the pitching of senior Jack Hribernik (Menomonee Falls, Wis.), the Falcons entered the bottom of the ninth down 9-7.

Brynden Cleveland led off the inning with a double to deep right center. After a fly out to left field, Cleveland moved to third.

Eventually, an Owen Burns triple would bring Cleveland home and put Concordia within one of the Mountaineers. 

Despite CUW's efforts to tie the game and force extra innings, Schreiner held on to their lead to secure the 9-8 victory.

Jack Owens and Matt Miller each had a team-high two RBIs in the loss. 

Meanwhile, Brynden Cleveland had a career-high three doubles, while freshman Jordan Vazquez (Chicago, Ill.) had his first collegiate hit with a double. 

Defensively, junior Zach Slome (Schaumburg, Ill.) went four innings on the bump and struck out seven batters. 

Senior Ben Spiers (Waukesha, Wis.) also went three complete innings with two strikeouts.

Quickly following this game, the Falcons shifted their attention to the 2-0 Oles of St. Olaf College. 

Like the day's first game, the Falcons trailed after the early innings, as St. Olaf secured a 5-0 lead after the top of the fourth inning. 

But, in their half of the inning, CUW would answer with four runs.

Matt Miller led off the inning, reaching first via a walk. Brynden Cleveland then hit a single through the right side. Cole Aguirre then drew a walk to bring up bases loaded with no outs.

The ensuing at-bat saw freshman Ryan Le (Orland Park, Ill.) record his first collegiate hit with a double to left field to score Miller and Cleveland to bring the score to 5-2. 

The next-at-bat saw another CUW freshman record his first collegiate hit as Luke Heinkel (Brookfield, Wis.) drove the ball to the left field for a single and two RBIs.

Following the fourth inning, they trailed 5-4. 

The top of the fifth and sixth saw Concordia's defense hold the Oles scoreless as sophomore Nikolai Nawracaj (New Lenox, Ill.) struck out two batters.

CUW's defense continued to step up, as the Blue and White kept St. Olaf quiet in the top of the Owen Burns recorded two straight outs to bring the Falcons up to bat. 

In the bottom of the seventh, Kyle Flynn hit a double on a ball that was blasted over the center fielder's head to score Jordan Vazquez, who singled earlier in the inning to knot the game at 5-5. 

A Lion's error on a ball put in play by Matt Miller would give the Falcons their first lead of the contest, 6-5. 

But St. Olaf would quickly level the score at 6-6 as they scored in the top of the eighth. 

Later in the game, at the top of the ninth inning, senior Connor Krauseneck (Saginaw, Mich.) closed out the inning, striking out a Lion to keep the score tied heading into the bottom of the ninth. 

In the bottom of the ninth, Kyle Flynn got on base with a single to left field. 

An error from St. Olaf's third baseman moved Flynn over to second as Jimmy Juergensen reached first. 

In the next at-bat, Matt Miller moved over Flynn to third with a fly out to deep to right field.

With one out and a runner on third, Brynden Cleveland sat on a pitch and lifted one high into right field for the sacrifice fly, allowing Kyle Flynn to tag up from third and slide across home to walk off the game and give CUW the 7-6 victory. 

Connor Krauseneck picked up the win as he recorded the final five outs. Meanwhile, sophomore JT Hockers (Middleton, Wis.) went four innings in his second start of the season, totaling four strikeouts and only one walk. 

Freshman Alex Kuntz (Richfield, Wis.) also recorded a strikeout in his first collegiate appearance. 

Offensively, Kyle Flynn had a game-high three hits, while Luke Heinkel and Ryan Le both had two RBIs. Cole Aguirre also drew three walks in the win. 

CUW's record sits at 2-1 after the two games. 

Tucson action will continue for CUW as they will take on the Golden Gusties of Gustavus Adolphus on March 4th at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. MST.