Buuck, Thyssen help Baseball split on second day in Arizona

TUCSON, Ariz. – The freshmen duo of Carter Buuck and Nathan Thyssen helped lead the Concordia University Wisconsin Baseball team to a 1-1 record in Arizona on Friday. The Falcons opened the day by routing Carroll, 15-0, before stranding the game-tying run on third base for the second straight day in a one-run loss against Macalester (5-4).

Thyssen (Kimberly, Wis.) continued his impressive start to his rookie campaign as he 6-for-9 with seven RBI over the two games. He tripled in each game, bringing his total to three in three games this season.

All Buuck (Hillsboro, Ore.) did in his debut was allow just four runners to reach base over seven innings of work. The rookie southpaw did not allow a run, while surrendering four hits in seven shutout innings for his first win of his Falcons career.

Another pair of freshmen, Mike Magdziarz (Frankfort, Ill.) and Eric Dubek (Lockport, Ill.), looked impressive in relief appearances against Carroll. Each player threw one perfect inning, both recording a pair of strikeouts.

Thyssen paced the Falcons offense in the 15-run outburst by posting a 3-for-5 performance with five RBIs. Senior Brandon Seifert (Germantown, Wis.) added a three-hit, two-RBI game, while senior Joel Sharon (Milwaukee, Wis.) collected a pair of hits and scored three runs.

Sophomore Matt Schubert (West Bend, Wis.) collected a pair of hits for the Falcons and scored twice in the opener Friday, while freshman Justin Barney (Kenosha, Wis.) scored a pair of runs.

CUW collected 14 hits in the win over Carroll and jumped out to an 8-0 lead after four innings. Not that the game was in any danger with Buuck cruising along, but the Falcons provided more insurance in the eighth with a seven-run frame. Just four of the Falcons runs were earned as Carroll kicked the ball around to the tune of seven errors.

In the second game, Macalester scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth, rallying for a 5-4 win. As it was in the season-opener against No. 5 Cal Lutheran, CUW threatened with the tying run in the ninth inning, but was unable to come up with the key hit, falling in a one-run game for the second straight day.

Thyssen again collected three hits and a triple in game two, driving in a pair of runs. Sharon added two hits, including a double and scored twice, while junior Kyle Hegeman (New Berlin, Wis.) added a pair of hits.

CUW jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the top of the fourth but the Scots came back with a pair of runs in the fourth to tie the game at two. The Falcons responded with two in the top of the fifth on an RBI double from Sharon and an RBI single off the bat of Thyssen.

The 4-2 lead held until the Scots three-run sixth, which were the final runs scored in the second contest. Sophomore Dylan Gausman (Eagan, Minn.) took the loss, pitching one inning in relief. Senior Tyler Adams (Jackson Wis.) allowed two runs in five innings as the starter, while freshman Joey Schuman (New Lenox, Ill.) threw two scoreless innings of relief.

CUW will have Saturday off before taking on No. 2 St. Thomas in a doubleheader. The doubleheader is set to begin at 12 p.m. (MST) and both games will be seven innings.