Baseball splits home NACC doubleheader against Aurora

MEQUON, Wis. – For the third time in four games this weekend the Concordia University Wisconsin Baseball team saw a late lead disappear as Aurora University rallied for a game two win, earning a split with the Falcons in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference doubleheader Sunday. CUW won game one, 9-2, before Aurora scored three times in the top of the ninth to win game two, 5-3.

In the game one win, freshman Andrew Heideman (Bakersfield, Calif.) was impressive in relief, throwing 5.2 innings of scoreless ball to earn the win on the mound. Heideman scattered four hits in relief of starter Michael Winter (Cedarburg, Wis.) who threw 3.1 innings. Winter allowed two runs but none were earned and struck out one.

The big hit of the opening game came off the bat of freshman Bryan Thomas (Lowell, Ind.). With the Falcons trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth, Thomas delivered a bases clearing double, giving CUW a 4-2 edge. He would later score on a wild pitch, completing the five-run fifth for CUW.

The Falcons would go on to add two runs in both the sixth and eighth innings to capture the seven-run win in the opener. Sophomore Jordan Mathiebe (Brillion, Wis.) delivered a two-RBI single in the sixth, while junior Brandon Seifert (Germantown, Wis.) drove in one in the eighth.

Mathiebe finished the opener with three hits, scoring twice and driving in two. Thomas added three RBIs, while senior Taylor Buuck (Hillsboro, Ore.) drove in two for the Falcons. Also delivering at the plate was freshman Matt Schubert (West Bend, Wis.) who tallied two hits one day after combining for six in a doubleheader against Benedictine.

It appeared CUW would go on for the sweep on Sunday as the Falcons built a 3-2 lead heading into the top of the ninth inning. That is where things took a turn for the worse as the Spartans tallied on three runs, beginning with an RBI triple from pinch hitter Steven Jaquez. An error by the Falcons tied the game at 4-3 and Aurora got another run across on a single, taking a two-run lead into the bottom of the ninth.

Mathiebe would double in the ninth for the Falcons but AU reliever Henry Erickson got the other three batters he faced out, picking up his first save of the season. Collin Hart was the winning pitcher, allowing two earned and striking out three in eight innings of work.

Seifert paced the Falcons offense in game two, finishing 2-for-2 from the top of the order. Senior Jay Kuczynski (Cedarubrg, Wis.) finished the game with two RBIs, including an RBI triple in the fourth inning which gave CUW a 2-1 lead at the time.

Senior Austin Baglow (Walled Lake, Mich.) took the loss in game two, pitching 5.1 innings of relief. Baglow allowed two earned and struck out two in relief of junior Matthew Brueser (Oconomowoc, Wis.). Brueser gave up one run in 3.2 innings of work.

CUW (6-10, 2-6 NACC) will return to action Tuesday when they host Trinity International Tuesday. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. at Kapco Park.