WIAC athletics photo

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team collects the 2024 WIAC Baseball Tournament crown with a 10-3 win over UW-La Crosse. The Warhawks blasted out 7 runs in the first inning with Jack Hagen (San Clemente, Cal./San Clemente) controlling the mound in the offensive-turned-defensive game.

UW-La Crosse had a lead off home run to start things off only two pitched into the game, but the Warhawks responded back with four consecutive singles to start their first frame.

Sam Paden (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) with a two RBI single, followed by Dominik McVay (Mineral Point, Wis./Mineral Point) hitting a three run home run capped off the 7-1 lead after the first six outs for the Warhawks.

A quick three-up-three-down for each side turned the offensive game into a pitching battle. The Warhawks added on to the score with a two-run homer from Andy Thies (Tallahassee, Fla./Lawton Chiles) in the bottom of the third. UW-La Crosse scored one more in the Top of the fourth, but after that the offense was limited.

With a 9-2 lead, Jack Hagen (San Clemente, Cal./San Clemente) took over the game on the mound, with effective and efficient pitching. Hagen kept the Eagle scorers out of home, with UW-La Crosse only having one more run for the rest of the game.

In turn, the Warhawks added two more runs. Thies stole home in a double-steal situation in the bottom of the 7th. An inning later, Matt Scolan (Downers Grove, Ill./South) capped off the Warhawks WIAC season with a solo home run to right center.

With the tournament win, the Warhawks win their 8th WIAC Tournament Title, earning the conference bid into the NCAA Regional Tournament.