Baseball slugs way to game two victory, salvages split with Edgewood

MEQUON, Wis. – Both Concordia University Wisconsin and Edgewood College had their offenses on full display Saturday as the two teams played to a split in a Northern Athletics Conference doubleheader at Kapco Park. Edgewood rallied for a game one win, 11-8 in 10 innings, while CUW responded by coming from behind for a 12-11 game two victory.

The two offenses combined for 48 hits in the two games while totaling 42 runs. CUW also showed great patience at the plate Saturday, drawing 17 walks compared to striking out just three times.

In the game two victory the Falcons faced a 11-9 deficit heading into the bottom of the eighth inning before they played three runs to grab a one-run lead. Sophomore Kyle Hegeman (New Berlin, Wis.) started the rally with a walk and freshman Nick Yenter (Rosholt, Wis.) drove him in by tripling to center field. Yenter scored on a passed ball to tie the game at 11-11. A pair of walks then set the stage for junior Jay Kuczynski (Cedarburg, Wis.) as he singled in freshman Brock Bateman (Pewaukee, Wis.) to give CUW a one-run lead.

Edgewood made things interesting in the top of the ninth, attempting a second straight ninth-inning comeback, as the first two Eagles runners reached base. CUW would get the next batter to fly out and then Hegeman threw an Eagles runner out trying to steal third for the second out of the inning. Junior Austin Baglow (Walled Lake, Mich.) then completed his save opportunity by recording a groundout to give the Falcons their first victory of the season.

Sophomore Colin Bernreuter (Frakenmuth, Mich.) earned the win for CUW as he pitched 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, striking out one. Sophomore Matthew Brueser (Oconomowoc, Wis.) started the game, giving CUW five innings on the mound.

Five Falcon players recorded multiple hits in the second contest, led by Kucyznski who finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Sophomore Joel Sharon (Glendale, Wis.) smacked a pair of triples, finishing 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while sophomore Brandon Seifert (Germantown, Wis.) added two hits and two RBIs as well. Also chipping in with a pair of hits were freshman Taylor Devenport (Saukville, Wis.) and junior Taylor Buuck (Hillsborow, Ore.).

Dan Hoppel took the loss in relief for Edgewood in the second game. The Eagles were led Marc Ostrowski at the dish as he recorded a 3-for-5 performance, scoring two runs and driving in a pair.

In the opener it was the Eagles who would rally for the victory as they scored three runs in the top of the ninth to tie the game, 8-8, and then added three more in the tenth to capture the 11-8 victory.

Zack Creekmore had the big hit for Edgewood (3-13, 1-1 NAC) in the top of the ninth, belting a two-run double and then pinch hitter Will Schlosser drove in Creekmore to tie the game 8-8. Brad Clark then recorded a two-RBI base hit to give Edgewood a 10-8 lead before Creekmore drove him in with a double in the tenth inning to give EC a 11-8 victory.

Kuczynski was strong in game one for CUW as well as he went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Bateman added two hits in the first game, while Sharon drove in three.

Nate Averill picked up the win in the opener, throwing two innings of scoreless relief. Sophomore Tyler Adams (Jackson, Wis.) took the loss in relief for CUW. Junior Andrew Mueller (Horicon, Wis.) was strong on the mound for the Falcons to start the game, throwing eight innings and allowing just two earned runs while striking out three.