WHITEWATER – The No. 2 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team swept St. Norbert College Saturday behind solid relief pitching. The Warhawks improve to 21-4 this season while the Green Knights drop to 13-14.
 
In the opener Adam Gregory (Edgerton/Edgerton) gave the Warhawks a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second with a ground out that plated Kyle Haen(Madison/Edgewood). Jordan Kuczynski (Germantown/Germantown) followed with his first collegiate homerun to give the Warhawks a 2-0 lead after two.
 
The Green Knights answered with two runs in the top of the fourth before the scoreboard fell silent.
Mike Nompleggi (Oconto Falls/Oconto Falls) came on in relief of Ankur Shah (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) in the fifth and pitched six innings of one-hit ball to keep St. Norbert off the board. Across the diamond, St. Norbert starter Matt Freeman was doing his part to keep the Warhawks from scoring. Freeman tossed seven innings before giving way to Jake McMahon.
 
Finally, in the bottom of the tenth, Casey Power (Ontario, Canada/Belle River) came through with a clutch hit through the left side of the infield to plate Daytona Bryden (Rockton, IL/Hononegah), and the Warhawks won in walk off fashion for the second time this season.
 
Nompleggi earned the win, his third of the season, pitching six innings, striking out seven and walking one while giving up just one hit. Mikole Pierce (DePere/DePere) was the only Warhawk to notch multiple hits going a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate with two walks.
 
After falling behind 1-0 to start the second game Haen belted a bases loaded sacrifice fly to tie the game at one after one.
 
The Green Knights notched another run in the top of the third but UW-Whitewater responded with a three-run fourth to take the lead for good. With one out, Kyle Jones (Kenosha, Wis./Tremper) reached on an infield single and scored on a double down the left field line byDane Burman (Milton, Wis./Milton). Trent Diekvoss (Beaver Dam/Beaver Dam) followed with a walk and two batters later Steve Chamberlain (Rockford, IL/Guilford) tripled to right center to give the Warhawks a 4-2 advantage.
 
Meanwhile Donnie Manke (Lodi/Lodi) was on cruise control. Manke came on in relief of Heath Renz (Jefferson, Wis./Jefferson) in the fourth and pitched four scoreless innings while giving up just two hits. Austin Finn (Oconomowoc/Kettle Moraine) and Andrew Lowe (Whiting, IN/Whiting)split the final two innings and did not give up a hit. Manke earned the win and Lowe earned the save, both their first of the season. Daytona Bryden (Rockton, IL/Hononegah), Chamberlain and Burman each picked up two hits in the game.
 
The Warhawks will travel to No. 6 UW-Stevens Point on Tuesday for a doubleheader beginning at 1 pm.