UW-La Crosse (32-9) used a pair of big
homeruns to down the UW-Whitewater baseball team (28-14) in the
Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament Saturday
in La Crosse 13-3. This is the fifth time this season the
Eagles defeated the Warhawks but it is the first loss for the
Warhawks in the double-elimination tournament.
The Warhawks struck first in the bottom of the first when Dylan Friend (Burlington/Burlington) scored on a sacrifice fly by Marty Herum (River Falls/River Falls). They extended their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the second when David Cladis (Joliet, IL/Joliet Catholic) singled to center to plate Steve Bartlein (South Milwaukee/South Milwaukee). Another run in the bottom of the third on a Mike Mierow (Brookfield/Central) single to right center that scored Herum made it 3-0 in favor of UW-W.
Things started to go south for UW-W in the top of the fourth. A three-run home run to left center by Eagles' designated hitter Adam Cordova tied the game. Jay Fanta belted a grand slam in the top of the fifth to give UW-L a 7-3 lead and seemingly dash the Warhawks' hopes. The Eagles ended the inning with a 9-3 lead.
The Warhawks never seriously threatened after that and totaled just five hits in the game.
Two more runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth made it 13-3 in favor of UW-La Crosse.
The Warhawks will move on to face UW-Oshkosh in an elimination game at 1:00 pm Saturday. The Warhawks and Titans split four games earlier this season in Whitewater. UW-L advances to the championship game where they will face either Oshkosh or Whitewater at 4:00 pm.
The Warhawks struck first in the bottom of the first when Dylan Friend (Burlington/Burlington) scored on a sacrifice fly by Marty Herum (River Falls/River Falls). They extended their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the second when David Cladis (Joliet, IL/Joliet Catholic) singled to center to plate Steve Bartlein (South Milwaukee/South Milwaukee). Another run in the bottom of the third on a Mike Mierow (Brookfield/Central) single to right center that scored Herum made it 3-0 in favor of UW-W.
Things started to go south for UW-W in the top of the fourth. A three-run home run to left center by Eagles' designated hitter Adam Cordova tied the game. Jay Fanta belted a grand slam in the top of the fifth to give UW-L a 7-3 lead and seemingly dash the Warhawks' hopes. The Eagles ended the inning with a 9-3 lead.
The Warhawks never seriously threatened after that and totaled just five hits in the game.
Two more runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth made it 13-3 in favor of UW-La Crosse.
The Warhawks will move on to face UW-Oshkosh in an elimination game at 1:00 pm Saturday. The Warhawks and Titans split four games earlier this season in Whitewater. UW-L advances to the championship game where they will face either Oshkosh or Whitewater at 4:00 pm.