BB: WIAC: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[badgerwarhawk]

The WARHAWKS ran their conference winning streak to six with a pair of wins over LaCrosse 5-1 and 6-1.  The games were played in Whitewater due to weather conditions in LaCrosse. In game one Sam Steuber pitched 7 scoreless innings allowing just 2 hits, none after the second inning, while walking one and striking out 4 for the win. Leyton Bowers had a pair of hits and Domminick McVay two RBI to lead the offense. Gradin Taschner started game two and pitched 5 scoreless innings allowing 2 hits and a walk while striking out 5 for the win.  Jackson Spring had 4 hits, pushing his BA to .464, and Dominik McVay had a pair of RBI offensively.

The series will be resumed on Monday with a pair of games in LaCrosse.

[badgerwarhawk]

WARHAWKS take game three from the Eagles 4-0 in an 11 innings.  AJ Curtis was sharp for the Eagles pitching 8 shutout innings while allowing just 2 hits and striking out 6.  The WARHAWKS Ben Lee and Franklin Kirchner matched him with 8 scoreless innings and the game went into extras scoreless. In the 11th with two outs and two runners on base Leyton Bowers powered a 3 run home run over the right center fence and Aaron Holland followed with a solo shot for the WARHAWKS runs.  Benjy Tucker got the win with 3 scoreless innings of relief.

The WARHAWKS complete the series sweep of LaCrosse winning game four 2-1.  A pair of walks and hit batters led to the WARHAWKS first run in the third inning.  A lead off double followed by a walk and hit batter loaded the bases and Aaron Holland's sac fly brought in the second run.  LaCrosse scored their run in the eighth.  Ethan Wickman, in a rare start, got the win pitching 6 inning allowing 5 hits with a single walk and strikeout. 

LaCrosse outhit the WARHAWKS 20-9 on the day.

[cubs]

Richter has turned UWSP's baseball program into a complete joke.  For the most part early on at UWSP, he won with Jirschele's guys.  So, I thought at the very least he could coach.  It's painfully obvious he can't recruit the talent needed to compete and he can't coach it up either.

Then again maybe just play the kids who have some impact talent regularly?

Nystrom has done nothing but his since he was inserted into the starting lineup last week.  How did it take until the conference portion of the season for him to finally get back-to-back starts?  To go from riding the pine the first quarter of the season to now having him be your 4-hole hitter today is a bit of a head scratcher...

[tomt4525]

Richter has turned UWSP's baseball program into a complete joke.  For the most part early on at UWSP, he won with Jirschele's guys.  So, I thought at the very least he could coach.  It's painfully obvious he can't recruit the talent needed to compete and he can't coach it up either.

Then again maybe just play the kids who have some impact talent regularly?

Nystrom has done nothing but his since he was inserted into the starting lineup last week.  How did it take until the conference portion of the season for him to finally get back-to-back starts?  To go from riding the pine the first quarter of the season to now having him be your 4-hole hitter today is a bit of a head scratcher...

Wouldn't disagree with that other than the players making an impact are few and far between.  Nystrom should have been playing earlier for sure.  Argersinger was their best hitter last year and has really struggled so far.  There is no true shut down pitcher on their roster, haven't had that in what seems like forever.  Talent acquisition and coaching has been lackluster the past couple years.

[badgerwarhawk]

WARHAWKS take both ends of today's twin bill with the Titans 8-7 and 15-6.  The Titans jumped on top with 5 runs in their first at bat of game one but by the WARHAWKS had reclaimed the lead 6-5 by the third inning.  The Titans threatened in the ninth loading the bases and scoring a pair before Franklin Kirchner retired the side picking up his first save. Sam Steurer got the win pitching 4 innings of relief allowing 4 hits with a walk and 3 Ks. Brady Gilroy had a home run while Landen Seymour and Jackson Spring had 3 and 2 RBIs respectively. 

The WARHAWKS got 5 runs in their first at bat in game two and had built the lead to 13-3 by the seventh before Housinger hit a 3 run home run for the Titans forcing the game to nine innings. Jackson Koening got the win allowing 5 hits and 3 ER over 6 innings walking 3 and striking out 11. Leyton Bowers, Evan Olson and Danny Hopper all had 3 RBI and Aaron Holland a home run to pace the offense.

[cubs]

I have a feeling that despite all of the pitching that transferred out, people around the WIAC might not want to get their hopes up just yet.  The duo of Gradin Taschner and Theo Zeidler are going to cause some headaches for opposing hitters this season.

Whitewater has seemed to "bounce back" pretty well after dropping three out of four against Trinity.  They are currently on a 17 game winning streak as they head into a four game series against Eau Claire this weekend.

If Eau Claire could pull out a victory over the weekend, that would likely go a LONG way in securing a WIAC Tournament bid, as Whitewater has already swept Point and La Crosse, and also taken the first two against UWO.

Lastly, Whitewater getting exactly what I expected from Taschner (yes, that's former UWO standout and MLB Pitcher Jack's son) so far.  After starting the season in relief, he's now started in three of his last four appearances and is averaging nearly 1.5 K's/IP. 

Zeidler on the other hand has struggled thus far...  He's been roughed up in three of his five outings so far. 

The guy that has thrown well on the back end has been Benjy Tucker.  He's been effective as a multi-inning reliever and has "shut the door" on a numerous occasions as evidenced by his 5-1 record in 10 relief appearances.

[tomt4525]

Up 8-5 going to the 9th, sure can find some ways to lose.  Great job Richter and the Pointers.  As far as programs go, UWSP baseball is the worst program in the conference at this point.  I never expected to see the program fall this far.

[cubs]

They tried to give away the nightcap as well, but River Falls says "hold my beer!"

Up 7-5 entering 9th inning, River Falls scores four runs to take a 9-7 lead. The Pointers then score three in the bottom half for a walkoff victory.

One question I have? How does Nystrom not take the mound for the 9th inning in either game with Stevens Point having the lead and being three outs from victory?

[cubs]

Eau Claire sweeps UWO today? 

River Falls sweeps Point today, and takes three out of four in the series?

This isn't your father's WIAC baseball anymore!

[badgerwarhawk]

The WARHAWKS extended their winning streak to 19 with a pair of wins over Eau Claire, 15-5, 7-6) on Saturday.  Sam Steuber (3-0) surrendered 8 hits and struck out 5 over 5.2 innings in game one. Eight of ten WARHAWKS hitters had multiple hits led by Aaron Holland, Evan Olson, Leyton Bowers and Dominik McVay with 3 apiece. Aaron Holland and Olson (2) homered and Jackson Spring had 4 RBIs in the seven inning game. Game two played entirely different. The WARHAWKS led throughout the game but Eau Claire would get 2 and later 3 to stay within a run into the eighth with the score 6-5 WARHAWKS. Each team would score a run in the ninth with Eau Claire stranding the tying run on base.  Andy Thies homered and had a pair of hits as did Jackson Koening.  Koening had 3 RBIs and Maddux Hibbard had a pair.  Ben Lee (2-0) went 5.1 innings allowing 5 hits, 3 runs, 2 earned and 3ks.  Gradin Taschner earned a save. 

Sunday's games were postponed to Monday in Eau Claire.

[cubs]

Platteville cruises to an 11-4 victory over UWO in Whitewater today. Game #2 was suspended in the 3rd inning and will be completed tomorrow as part of a near tripleheader, once again at Whitewater.

[cubs]

Platteville takes a 9-8 lead into the 9th inning and promptly gives it away as they drop a flyball in LF with one out and nobody on base and then kick a groundball to first on an 0-2 count and two outs that scores the tying run. After a wild pitch moved the runner to second, UWO gets a single to CF to take the lead and holds on for the 10-9 win.

[Ralph Turner]

Platteville takes a 9-8 lead into the 9th inning and promptly gives it away as they drop a flyball in LF with one out and nobody on base and then kick a groundball to first on an 0-2 count and two outs that scores the tying run. After a wild pitch moved the runner to second, UWO gets a single to CF to take the lead and holds on for the 10-9 win.

Ouch!

[cubs]

Platteville quickly flushes their 9th inning miscues from the suspended game and stomps UWO 12-1 in a game shortened to seven innings via the "mercy rule."  Anthony Massa continues to crush Titan pitching as he hits his fourth 2-run HR of the series, which gives him 12 on the season and sets a new school record (with at least another 16 games to play.)

The Pioneers will go for the series victory in the finale as both teams will try to beat the impending sever weather.

[badgerwarhawk]

The WARHAWKS turn a 5-5 game into a 20-5 blowout by scoring a combined 15 runs off of a series of Eau Claire relievers in the eighth and ninth innings.  Jackson Koening started surrendering 5 runs (3 earned) on 4 hits over 4 innings.  Franklin Kirchner picked up the win with 5 hitless innings in relief walking a pair and striking out 4.  Leyton Bowers, Dominick McVay and Landen Seymour had 3 hits apiece. Andy Thies, Danny Hopper and Seymour all drove in 3 runs while Bowers, Jackson Spring and McVay had a pair of RBIs.  Koening (2R) and Thies (3R) hit home runs.

Some question whether game two will be played due to threatening weather.  If the game is not played it will not be made up.

Game two cancelled in the top of second with the WARHAWKS leading 2-0.