Five-run ninth in game two completes key NACC sweep for Baseball

LISLE, Ill. – The Concordia University Wisconsin Baseball team picked up a crucial sweep with two road wins over Benedictine Wednesday. The Falcons opened the day with a 5-2 win and then used a five-run ninth inning in game two, completing the sweep with an 8-3 victory.

THE BASICS
- Final Scores: CUW 5, Benedictine 2; CUW 8, Benedictine 3
- Location: The Sports Complex – Lisle, Illinois
- Records: CUW: 17-12, 7-6 NACC; Benedictine 16-11, 7-5 NACC

CUW 5, BENEDICTINE 2
- Andrew Gibbons (Markesan, Wis.) delivered 6.2 quality innings in picking up the win in game one. Scott Plachinski (South Milwaukee, Wis.) was dominant in 2.1 relief innings as the senior registered his third save of the season. Both pitchers finished the game with three strikeouts.

- With the game tied at 1-1 in the top of the sixth, Peter Scott (Dayton, Nev.) delivered a two-RBI double to give the Falcons their first lead of the day. Benedictine would cut the CUW lead to 3-2 in the bottom half of the sixth and the score held until the top of the ninth when the Falcons gained a couple of insurance runs, the first on an RBI double by senior Dan Ranieri (Loves Park, Ill.).

- Ranieri, Scott, and Justin Barney (Kenosha, Wis.) all tallied two hits to lead the Falcons at the plate. Kyle Hilliard (Oak Forest, Ill.) added a sacrifice fly in the fourth for CUW.

CUW 8, BENEDICTINE 3
- Game two was tied 3-3 before the Falcons erupted for five runs in the top of the ninth. The big hit in the inning was a bases-clearing triple from Barney, who later came around to score on an RBI single from Scott.

- Plachinski picked up the win in game two, throwing 1.1 scoreless innings. The Falcons bullpen did a tremendous job all day which included 2.2 scoreless frames from Drew Underwager (South Elgin, Ill.). Bradlee Sumner (Ocala, Fla.) got the start and allowed three earned in five innings of work with four strikeouts. The bullpen combined for 6.1 scoreless innings Wednesday. 

- CUW trailed 3-1 heading into the seventh but the Falcons plated two runs on two separate sacrifice flys in the inning. Nathan Thyssen (Appleton, Wis.) and Ranieri drove in the runs in the seventh to tie the game.

- Michael Szeszol (Lake Bluff, Ill.) paced the Falcons with three hits while Hilliard added two, including a double. Szeszol and Christian Gerner (Mequon, Wis.) each scored twice in the game two victory.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The wins were crucial in keeping the Falcons squarely in the mix for a NACC Tournament berth. CUW has seven games (including the halted Rockford contest) remaining and sits in seventh in the league standings. Just one game separates the second through seventh teams in the standings.

- It was the second time in under a week Plachinski earned the win and save in a doubleheader. He accomplished the feat in a sweep over No. 8 Concordia Chicago last Friday.

UP NEXT
- The Falcons will head back to Illinois for two NACC road games Saturday. CUW will visit Dominican and first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.