Carthage Outlasts CUW

TUCSON, Ariz. – The Falcons returned to the diamond on Wednesday to take on the Firebirds of Carthage College, a fellow Wisconsin opponent. Carthage won 13-10 in a tough battle, dropping CUW's record to 2-4. 

After conceding an early run, the Falcons got out of a jam in the first inning as they twisted a 5-4-3 double play. 

Then, in the following batter, junior pitcher Luke Bruckner (Fond du Lac, Wis.) struck out the side. 

CUW's defense continued to step up and make big plays in the top of the second inning as junior Brynden Cleveland (Crestwood, Ill.) gunned down a Firebird at home with a strong throw from left field to close out the inning.

But Carthage would scratch another run in the top of the third to extend their lead to 2-0. 

After being held scoreless and hitless for the duration of the contest, the Falcons finally broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth.

With runners in scoring position, senior Jack Owens (Chicago, Ill.) broke the seal with a triple to deep left-center to level the score at 2-2. 

Later in the inning, with runners on second and third, sophomore Matt Miller (Fredonia, Wis.) found the grass in left field with a single to give the Blue and White their first lead of the day at 4-2. 

A wild pitch gave CUW the final run of the inning, giving them a 5-2 lead. 

CUW's momentum carried over into the top of the fifth as Luke Bruckner continued to deal, forcing a 1-2-3 inning, which included a strikeout. 

The top of the sixth would see Carthage score one run, bringing the score to 5-3 in CUW's advantage. 

CUW continued to grow their lead in their half of the sixth as Matt Miller had an RBI after grounding out to short. On that throw from shortstop to first, junior Kyle Flynn (Nashville, Tenn.) caught the Firebirds sleeping and advanced to home, beating the tag. 

Later in the inning, junior Owen Burns (Morris, Ill.) singled to right field to bring in two more runs as CUW led 9-3 after six. 

Determined to remain perfect in Arizona, Carthage chewed away at the Falcons' lead, scoring one in the seventh, three in the eighth, and three in the ninth to take the lead 13-9 lead. 

The Falcons loaded the bases, looking to complete a comeback, and senior Cole Aguirre (Chino Hills, Calif.) singled to center for an RBI. 

But it was too little too late for the Blue and White, as they fell to a score of 13-10. 

Senior Jimmy Juergensen (Cedarburg, Wis.) led Concordia with two hits in the effort. 

Matt Miller led the Falcons with three RBIs, while Jack Owens and Owen Burns recorded two each. Jack Owens had the lone extra-base hit for the flock with a triple.

Meanwhile, Jack Owens, Brydnen Cleveland, and Cole Aguirre all recorded stolen base. 

Concordia drew 18 walks as a team, as Kyle Flynn had a game-high four. 

Luke Bruckner tied a career-high and pitched seven innings, facing 34 batters, striking out seven, walking zero, and recording four earned runs. On the day, Bruckner threw 96 pitches, 69 of which were strikes. 

Sophomore Nikolai Nawracaj (New Lenox, Ill.) had an efficient day as a relief pitcher, getting two outs on three pitches. 

The Falcons will look to bounce back on March 8^th when they take on Howard Payne at 9:30 a.m. and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 1:00 p.m.