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Box Score 2 FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Wisconsin Lutheran College baseball team took both games of a doubleheader from Minnesota-Morris Thursdayto win its fourth straight game and match the best start in program history that was set last season. The Warriors squeezed out a come-from-behind 6-5 win in game one before controlling the Cougars in a 12-1 game two victory.
Morris got on the scoreboard first in game one, scoring a run in the top of the third, but WLC countered with two runs of its own in the bottom of the inning. Jake Meyer (Sussex, Wis./Hamilton) strode home on a balk to tie the game, and Connor Vredeveld (Waterloo, Wis./Lakeside Lutheran) scored on an Aaron Roeseler (Watertown, Wis./Luther Preparatory) groundout to give the Warriors their first lead of the game.
WLC's advantage was short-lived however, as Christian Korlath homered to lead off the next inning and tie the game. The Cougars added another run in the inning to regain their lead at 3-2. Morris tacked on another pair of runs in the fifth to extend its lead to three runs.
The Warriors began to mount their comeback in the bottom of the fifth, starting with a two-run double off the bat of Roeseler that scored Vredeveld and Jake Klemme (Plymouth, Wis./Plymouth) to come within one run. Sam Mattheis (Rosendale, Wis./Laconia) lined a double into the outfield on the next at-bat to bring home Roeseler and Garrick Day (Elk Mound, Wis./Elk Mound) to put WLC up for good, 6-5.
Aaron Kieweg (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) notched his first collegiate start, recording a no-decision in 4.0 innings of work, allowing two earned runs and striking out two. Jacob Gustafson (West Bend, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) allowed two runs in 1.0 inning, but also stranded two men on base to pick up his first win of the season. Brandon Mantz (West Bend, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) closed out the final 2.0 innings, giving up just one hit and striking out two for his first career save. Roeseler finished with a run and three RBI, while Vredeveld had two hits and two runs scored.
Mitch Reller was charged with the loss for the Cougars, walking six batters and letting in six runs in 4.1 innings. Korlath led Morris offensively, ending the game 2-for-2 with two RBI and a run.
In game two, WLC began its scoring in the second inning with a run and never looked back, scoring four more times in the third inning to jump out to a 5-0 lead. Taylor Meyer (Sussex, Wis./Hamilton) led the way with three RBI in that stretch. The Warriors kept things rolling into the fourth inning, getting RBIs from Mantz and Korben Biersack (Greenfield, Wis./Greenfield) to push the score to 7-0.
The Cougars plated their lone run of the game in the bottom of the fourth, coming off a groundout from Kyle Grote.
WLC was blanked in the fifth before resuming its scoring spree with four more runs in the sixth, highlighted by a two-run double from Mantz. Ryan Stancl (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) provided the final exclamation point in the seventh, launching a homer over the left field wall for his first collegiate hit.
Day went the distance, pitching 7.0 innings for his first win of the season, allowing the single run. Day allowed just six hits while also striking out six batters. Mantz finished 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored, with Taylor Meyer also adding three RBI on 2-for-3 hitting. Brett Youngbeck (Brown Deer, Wis./Brown Deer) had one hit in four at-bats, but tallied four runs for the game.
Reid Thomas took the loss for the Cougars (2-4), lasting just 2.2 innings and giving up five runs. Grote had the only RBI of the game for Morris, with Cody Reinke providing the lone run.
WLC (5-1) plays its final doubleheader of the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic Friday against Gettysburg (Pa.) (4-3). First pitch is scheduled for 9 a.m. CST.
