Box Score
Box score
MILWAUKEE - The Wisconsin Lutheran College
baseball team's ninth-inning comeback fell just inches short as it
lost a heartbreaker to North Park University 5-4 in its 2010 home
opener on Monday afternoon at Neumann Family Field.
After the Vikings took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, WLC
freshman Sam Braaten (Appleton, Wis./East) tied the game in the
second with a single which plated senior Jake Thorsteins (Round
Lake Beach, Ill./Shoreland Lutheran), who drew a walk earlier in
the inning.
Aided by two errors by the WLC defense in the third inning,
North Park scored a run without a hit to grab a 2-1 lead.
Junior Ryan Pollesch (Markesan, Wis./Markesan) led off the fifth
inning with a bunt single, stole second base, advanced to third on
a passed ball and scored on a single by junior Justin Barkhurst
(Crete, IL./Illinois Lutheran) which tied the game up at 2-2.
Thorsteins threw three straight scoreless innings before finally
surrendering a run in the seventh inning. An RBI double by Mike
Domenick put the Vikings up 3-2.
Freshman Tyler Schoen (Marion, Wis./Marion) got things started
in the eighth inning as he ripped a leadoff single and stole second
base. An overthrow by NPU's defense allowed Schoen to score the
tying run, but the Warriors' offense could not get Thorsteins home
from second with one out for an opportunity to take the lead.
North Park responded in the top of the ninth with a pair of
two-out hits that scored two runs and gave the visiting Vikings a
5-3 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.
Wisconsin Lutheran, looking to avenge last year's loss to the
Vikings in Chicago, led off the inning with back-to-back singles
from senior Kyle Edlhuber (Mukwonago, Wis./Luther Preparatory) and
Barkhurst that chased the Vikings reliever from the mound. The new
North Park reliever, Tito Garza, came up big with two strikeouts,
but a walk loaded the bases with two outs. Thorsteins shot a single
up the middle which scored Edlhuber, but Barkhurst was called out
at home as the catcher apparently tagged his foot before swiping
home.
Wisconsin Lutheran received a great performance on the bump from
Thorsteins, who threw a complete game. He gave up nine hits, three
earned runs, struck out five and walked two.
Barkhurst went 3-for-5 with an RBI to pace the Warriors at the
plate. Edlhuber and Braaten also had two hits apiece. WLC finished
with a season-high six stolen bases.
Ryan Javech had two hits and a run scored and Andy Athans added
two RBIs for North Park (10-5). Jake Hollinsaid pitched three
innings in relief to pickup the victory and improve to 4-0 on the
season.
Wisconsin Lutheran (1-8) will host Carroll University on
Wednesday in a single nine-inning non-conference game. First pitch
is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Neumann Family Field.
