The No. 3 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team defeated UW-Platteville 14-3 and 7-6 in consecutive games in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon in Platteville, Wis.
In the first game, the Warhawks (20-4 overall, 12-2 WIAC) out-hit the Pioneers, 13-4, recorded no errors and ended the game after eight innings due to run rule.
Senior pitcher Heath Renz tossed the first six innings and collected 12 strikeouts and the win to improve to 7-1. Senior Ryan Makuski tossed the seventh inning and sophomore pitcher Cooper Michalski pitched the eighth.
Senior catcher Mike Aiello posted three hits, four runs batted in and two runs, and freshman third baseman Nick Santoro posted two hits, three runs and two RBI. Senior center fielder Daytona Bryden collected one hit and two runs in the victory.
The Warhawks tallied two runs in the first inning, including a sacrifice fly from senior third basemen Cal Aldridge, which sent Bryden in for the run.
In the second inning, Aiello ripped a double to center right and plated Szubert.
The Pioneers (6-24 overall, 0-14 WIAC) came back and scored two runs in the bottom of the second to make the score 4-2.
UW-Whitewater scored two runs in the fourth inning that included a run-scoring single from Aldridge and a sacrifice fly from junior shortstop Nick Schrader.
Aiello recorded a single in the seventh inning and sent in two runners for the Warhawks to make the score 10-2.
UW-Whitewater extended its lead in the eighth inning, including three unearned runs due to an error by the Pioneers. Santoro scored on a passed ball, which accounted for the final margin of the game.
In the second game, junior pitcher Sam Heilenbach tossed the first six and 2/3 innings and registered eight strikeouts. Sophomore Riley Gruetzmacher finished the game and posted two strikeouts for his first victory of the year.
Aiello and sophomore first basemen Ben Wilkins each posted two hits. Doud recorded two hits, one run and two runs batted in, Bryden collected two runs and two hits and Aldridge registered two hits and one run.
In the first inning, after UW-Platteville recorded a home run, UW-Whitewater answered with a homer from Doud to right field to make the score 1-1.
Schrader sent Bryden in on a groundout to first base in the top of the fifth in to cut the Pioneers' lead to 4-2.
After being down, 6-2, the Warhawks rallied with five runs in the ninth inning to take the lead and earn the victory.
Senior first baseman Blake Fleischman tallied a single and sent in Schrader and Bryden. A single from Doud to right field advanced Santoro to third base and sent Fleischman home to tie the score, 6-6.
Senior Jeff Szubert ripped a sacrifice fly to left field for the go-ahead RBI, sending Santoro in to score and take the lead.
UW-Whitewater out-hit UW-Platteville, 12-10, and committed only one error compared to two by the Pioneers.
The Warhawks wrap up the four-game series in Platteville Sunday at 12 p.m.