The No. 18 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team took Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium for competition for the first time in nearly 22 months Saturday afternoon, topping UW-Stevens Point in consecutive games to start the 2021 season.
The Warhawks (2-0 overall) downed the Pointers 9-4 in the first game before hanging on late for a 6-4 triumph in the nightcap.
In the opener, UW-Whitewater set the tone early with a six-run first inning, and three pitchers combined to allow only one earned run.
Centerfielder Zach Campbell highlighted the offense with four hits, including two singles, one double and one triple, while scoring two runs and knocking in three with a bases-clearing double to left center in the opening frame.
Right fielder Taylor White knocked in a pair of runs with a double to left in the first and finished with two hits, and third baseman Tucker Criswell tallied two runs batted in on a bases-loaded walk in the first and a two-out, run-scoring double in the sixth.
Catcher Ryan Norton smashed a solo home run off the left field foul pole in the seventh and scored two runs. Shortstop Nick Santoro totaled two hits and two runs scored, and designated hitter Ian Drays posted two hits and one run.
Westin Muir tossed four shutout innings to start the contest, stranding a combined four runners, including three in scoring position, in the third and fourth innings. Nick Cairo earned the win with three innings of relief, and Connor Moroder finished the game by tossing the final two frames.
UW-W pitchers combined to strand 10 UW-Stevens Point runners in the game.
In Game 2, the Pointers (0-2) held a 2-0 advantage through the first 3 1/2 innings before the Warhawks plated two in the fourth, one in the fifth, two in the sixth and one more in the eighth.
UW-Stevens Point loaded the bases with two outs and two runs already in during the top of the ninth, but Connor Spear struck out the final batter to escape the jam.
Matt O'Sullivan tossed the first six innings, striking out 10 and allowing only four hits for the win. Kade Lancour pitched a pair of scoreless frames in his Warhawk debut before handing the ball to Spear, who pitched the ninth. The staff combined to strand nine more Pointer runners.
Criswell finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Santoro collected two hits, one run scored and one RBI. First baseman Donovan Brandl scored two runs and knocked in one run, and left fielder Matt Korman placed a pair of runs.
UW-Whitewater hosts UW-Oshkosh for a doubleheader Tuesday. First pitch at Miller Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.