Baseball Splits NACC-Opening Doubleheader at Benedictine

LISLE, Ill. – The Concordia University Wisconsin baseball team opened its Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) season on Saturday against Benedictine, a team projected to finish at the top of the conference according to the NACC preseason poll.

The Falcons came away with a split on the day, securing a 10-1 victory in the opener before falling 4-3 in extra innings in the second game. After the doubleheader, Concordia's record stands at 9-6 overall.

In the first game, the Falcons demonstrated an all-around dominant performance, winning 10-1 while extending their streak of scoring 10 or more runs to five consecutive games. Concordia also played error-free baseball, contributing to the lopsided victory.

The Falcons jumped on the board early, plating two runs in the second inning. Sophomore Hayden Reich (Sussex, Wis.) reached on a fielder's choice to score senior Tyler Brandenburg (Saukville, Wis.). On the same play, an errant throw by Benedictine's shortstop allowed senior Josh Aguiniga (Chicago, Ill.) to score, giving CUW a 2-0 lead.

Concordia added to its lead in the third inning, going up 4-1. Brandenburg doubled down the left-field line to drive in freshman Graham Kasten (Mequon, Wis.), who had walked to open the inning, and senior Brynden Cleveland (Crestwood, Ill.), who reached base on an error.

The Falcons furthered their advantage in the fourth inning when Cleveland doubled to center field, scoring Jack Owens (Chicago, Ill.), who had singled to start the inning, to make it 5-1.

After a shutdown defensive inning, Concordia took a 7-1 lead in the seventh when Cleveland hit a two-run home run to center field.

The Falcons continued to add insurance in the ninth, starting with a leadoff home run from Kasten to left field. Later in the inning, with two outs, freshman Colyn Lessila (Germantown, Wis.) doubled down the left-field line, driving in two more runs for the 10-1 lead.

The Falcons' defense remained solid, shutting down the Eagles in the bottom of the ninth to close out the win.

Concordia outhit Benedictine 12-9 in the opener, with the Falcons registering seven extra-base hits. Brandenburg led the offense with three hits, including two doubles. Kasten and Cleveland both homered, with Cleveland driving in a game-high three RBIs.

On the mound, senior Zach Slome (Schaumburg, Ill.) delivered an impressive performance, tossing six innings and allowing just one run while striking out 10. Senior Owen Burns (Morris, Ill.) tossed three scoreless innings and allowing only two hits.

In the second game, Benedictine bounced back, escaping the Falcons 4-3 in 11 innings. Concordia struck first in the top of the first inning when Cleveland blasted a three-run homer to give the Falcons an early 3-0 lead.

The Eagles responded with two runs in the fourth and one more in the seventh to tie the game at 3-3. The Falcons managed to escape several jams throughout the contest, including a tense seventh and ninth inning, to push the game into extra innings.

In the 10th inning, Concordia had a chance to take the lead but was thwarted by a well-executed relay play by the Eagles, who threw out a runner at the plate as the Falcons left three stranded on base.

In the 11th inning, Benedictine capitalized on a fielder's choice to walk off with the 4-3 victory.

Sophomore Alex Kuntz (Richfield, Wis.) went 5.2 innings in the start, striking out nine batters. Junior Nikolai Nawracaj (New Lenox, Ill.), senior Jake Hartley (Whitefish Bay, Wis.), and senior Chris Rooney (Mundelein, Ill.) all contributed in relief, while senior Arthur Liebau (Mequon, Wis.) threw 3.2 shutout innings, striking out five batters.

The Falcons will host their first NACC doubleheader of the season at Kapco Park in Mequon, as Lakeland visits Concordia next Wednesday.