Falcons Soar to Dominant Win Over LeTourneau

PENSACOLA, Fla. – The Falcons cruised to a dominant 16-6 victory over the LeTourneau YellowJackets in game two of their Pensacola Challenge slate, improving their overall record to 7-5. The win marks their third straight and fourth in their last five games. With 16 runs on the board, the Falcons tie a season-high for runs in a game.

CUW struck early, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Senior Tyler Brandenburg (Saukville, Wis.) singled to right field to bring in a run, followed by a right-field single from sophomore Matt Miller (Fredonia, Wis.) that scored another Falcon base runner.

On the mound, senior Zach Slome (Schaumburg, Ill.) delivered a 1-2-3 inning to keep the YellowJackets off the scoreboard in the first.

LeTourneau cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the second, but the Falcons answered with a four-run outburst in the top of the third. After three straight walks loaded the bases, freshman Brady Coons (Kimberly, Wis.) came through with a bases-clearing, 3-RBI double to left field for his first collegiate hit. Senior Jack Owens (Chicago, Ill.) then executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to score another run, giving the Falcons a commanding 6-1 lead after three innings.

CUW added another run in the fourth, with Coons playing a key role again as he put the ball in play to drive in a run.

LeTourneau rallied with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to keep the game within reach, trimming CUW's lead to 7-4.

But the Falcons' offense showed no signs of slowing down, scoring at least one run in every inning from the sixth through the ninth.

In the sixth, senior Josh Aguiniga (Chicago, Ill.) led off with a triple down the right field line and eventually scored on an RBI single by Colyn Lessila (Germantown, Wis.). The Falcons benefitted from a wild pitch to score another run, followed by two more runs off a fielding error by the YellowJackets.

The seventh inning saw Miller deliver an RBI single, and the other runs came from a YellowJacket error and a sacrifice fly by sophomore Alex Ames (Plymouth, Wis.).

Brandenburg continued his strong performance in the eighth with a double to center field, driving in another run. In the ninth, sophomore Luke Heinkel (Brookfield, Wis.) added to the tally with a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing the final score to 16-6.

On the mound, senior Arthur Liebau (Mequon, Wis.) earned the save after throwing three scoreless innings in relief. Slome picked up his first win of the season, going six innings and striking out three batters.

Offensively, the Falcons were led by Aguiniga, Miller, and Lessila, who each recorded three hits. Ames and Brandenburg added two hits apiece. Coons led the team with three RBIs, while Brandenburg and Miller each drove in two. Seven different players recorded RBIs for CUW.

The Falcons drew 11 walks in the game, with Slome and Liebau combining for zero walks allowed. The team also played flawless defense, committing no errors.

CUW will look to carry this momentum into Sunday's matchup against UW-Stout before beginning conference play next week.