Box Score FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Wisconsin Lutheran College baseball team wrapped up its spring trip at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic Saturday, falling to North Park (Ill.) 12-6.
The Vikings got their offense rolling early, scoring four runs in the top of the second. Mitchell Jordan highlighted the inning with a two-run single. North Park added onto its lead with an additional run in the third for a 5-0 lead.
The Warriors got on the scoreboard in the third, courtesy of a Sam Mattheis (Rosendale, Wis./Laconia) single that plated Aaron Roeseler (Watertown, Wis./Luther Preparatory) and Taylor Meyer (Sussex, Wis./Hamilton). The Vikings got those runs back in the fifth however, scoring twice to extend their advantage to 7-2. Jake Klemme (Plymouth, Wis./Plymouth) singled home Brett Youngbeck (Brown Deer, Wis./Brown Deer) in the sixth to cut into North Park's lead by a run.
The Vikings' offense stayed hot into the eighth with another four-run frame, led by Mike Coduto's two-run double. Trailing 11-3 going into their half of the eighth, the Warriors responded with three runs to make the score 11-6. Connor Vredeveld (Waterloo, Wis./Lakeside Lutheran) and Roeseler each had an RBI single, while Meyer took advantage of a wild pitch to cross home. North Park added a final run and shut the door on WLC in the ninth and emerge for the 12-6 win.
Jaime Paumen (Glencoe, Minn./Silver-Lake) took the loss, striking out three but allowing seven runs in 5.0 innings. Garrick Day (Elk Mound, Wis./Elk Mound) finished 3-for-4 with a run scored for his fifth multi-hit game of the season. Vredeveld went 2-for-4 with a run and RBI, while Mattheis drove in two and Meyer scored a pair of runs.
Jason Meger allowed three runs over 5.0 innings for the Vikings (6-5) to earn his second win of the season. Coduto finished 3-for-5, tallying four RBI and a run. Joe Belmonte went 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs, and Dan Sabin finished 4-for-5 with three runs and an RBI.
The Warriors (5-4) return to action next Saturday with a non-conference doubleheader at Beloit (6-2). First pitch is set for 12 p.m.
