The No. 20 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team pushed its lead in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference standings to two games Saturday with a doubleheader sweep over Finlandia (Mich.) at Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium.
The Warhawks (20-6 overall, 13-1 WIAC) defeated the Lions 9-3 in Game 1 before earning a 10-0 victory in the nightcap in an eight-inning contest shortened due to run rule.
With the four-game sweep, UW-Whitewater increased its lead in the league standings to two games over UW-La Crosse just past the midway point of the conference slate. The team also secured its 10th consecutive victory.
In the opener, the Warhawks tallied three runs in the first inning and didn't look back. Finlandia (4-24, 1-15) drew to within four runs after scoring a pair in the top of the sixth, but UW-Whitewater responded with three more in the bottom of the seventh to open up a seven-run advantage.
Sophomore Westin Muir earned the win to improve to 4-0 on the season, allowing only two hits while striking out four over five innings of work. Sophomore Hayden Fox didn't allow an earned run over the final three innings and picked up his first save of the year.
Junior right fielder Alex Doud finished 2-for-5 with a home run and five runs batted in to lead the offense. Senior catcher Mike Aiello totaled three hits and three runs scored, and junior centerfielder Noah Jensen and sophomore first baseman Connor Moroder each tallied two hits, two runs scored and one RBI. Junior designated hitter Ben Wilkins plated a pair of runs.
In the second contest, three pitchers combined for a four-hit shutout, with sophomore Connor Spear picking up the victory, his fourth of the year, with a two-hitter over five innings. Junior Keith Kutzler tossed a scoreless sixth, and junior Riley Gruetzmacher allowed only one hit over the final two innings.
Doud enjoyed another big game in the nightcap, finishing 4-for-4 with five more RBI. Sophomore shortstop Nick Santoro knocked in a pair of runs on a homer, and Aiello, Jensen and Moroder each scored two runs.
UW-Whitewater continues WIAC play Wednesday with a doubleheader at UW-Platteville. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.