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Box Score 2 MEQUON, Wis. - After being picked to finish ninth in the preseason poll and sneaking into the conference tournament as the sixth and final seed, the Wisconsin Lutheran College baseball team saw its magical run through the 2013 Northern Athletics Conference Tournament come to an end Saturday at Kapco Park. After knocking out second-seeded Benedictine University, 5-1, the Warriors fell, 9-0, to top-seeded Concordia University Chicago in the championship game.
The opening game of the day against Benedictine was all WLC early. After both teams went 2.0 innings without scoring a run, the Warriors opened the floodgates with a three-run third inning. Thanks to two errors from the Eagles, runners were able to place themselves in scoring position and Sam Mattheis (Rosendale, Wis./Laconia) and Brett Youngbeck (Brown Deer, Wis./Brown Deer) to hit RBI singles to bring home three runs.
After Benedictine added its first run in the fourth, the game remained 3-1 until the bottom of the sixth inning. Tyler Schoen (Marion, Wis./Marion) and Doug Martin (West Bend, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) each hit back-to-back triples. One batter later, Brandon Mantz (West Bend, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) dropped down a sacrifice bunt to bring Martin home from third, putting the Warriors out front to a commanding 5-1 lead. WLC shutdown BenU over the final three innings, allowing just three hits. Garrick Day (Elk Mound, Wis. /Elk Mound) led the Warriors with three hits for the game, including a double in the fifth inning.
Joey Hodkiewicz (Burlington, Wis./Burlington) pitched the third straight complete game of the tournament for the Warriors, striking out three on his way to allowing just five hits and one run for the game.
NAC Pitcher of the Year Chris Jordan took the loss for Benedictine (32-10) as he allowed nine hits and five runs. Nick Karakosta led the Eagles with two hits.
The Warriors, who were looking to make history, found themselves matched up with Concordia Chicago in the championship game after squaring off in the first game of the tournament.
WLC found itself in a hole early as CUC took a 2-0 lead after the first 2.0 innings. Down but not out, Warriors starting pitcher Jared Pfeifer (Cambridge, Wis./Lakeside Lutheran) held the Cougars for three scoreless innings. Unfortunately, the WLC bats could not find any rhythm to answer the defense's impressive stand. Youngbeck did manage a single in the fourth, but could not advance further. Concordia Chicago added a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to increase its lead to 4-0.
The Cougars secured their Northern Athletics Conference Tournament championship with a five-run eighth inning, making the score 9-0. WLC fought hard to put runs on the board, but could not produce anything. Martin led the Warriors with two of their five hits for the game.
Pfeifer suffered the loss from the mound for the Warriors, going 6.0 total innings, allowing eight hits and four runs. Andrew Iverson (Janesville, Wis./Craig) and Mattheis tossed the final two innings of relief.
Ryan Thorsen struck out four on his way to the shutout on the mound for Concordia Chicago. Leading the way with three hits for CUC (36-5) was Will Randerson.
Wisconsin Lutheran finishes its 2013 season with a 20-17 overall record, including 11-11 in NAC play. The 20 wins set a single-season record, while the conference tournament appearance was WLC's first in the seven-year history of the league.
