Spartans' Ninth-Inning Rally Sinks Warriors On Senior Day

MILWAUKEE – The Wisconsin Lutheran College baseball team was swept by visiting Aurora on Senior Day, ending the Warriors' bid for the NACC Tournament. The Spartans won game one 11-5 before coming back in the ninth in game two for a 6-4 victory Saturday at Neumann Family Field.

THE BASICS

• Final Scores: Aurora 11, Wisconsin Lutheran 5; Aurora 6, Wisconsin Lutheran 4
• Records: Wisconsin Lutheran (16-22, 8-12 NACC), Aurora (22-16, 13-7 NACC)
• Location: Neumann Family Field, Milwaukee, Wis. | Attendance: 87

GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS

• The Warriors jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead after the first inning. Ryan Stancl (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) singled to right to score Curtis Engelbrecht (Wisconsin Rapids, Wis./Northland Lutheran) and KJ Banse (Racine, Wis./St. Catherine's).
• In the third inning, Aurora scored four runs off four hits to take control of the contest. The Spartans led 11-2 after the top half of the seventh.
• Wisconsin Lutheran took two back in the bottom of the seventh as Jake Schwall (West Allis, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) doubled down the left field line, scoring Matt Wick (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett). Kasey Zdroik (Plainfield, Wis./Tri-County) grounded out to short to plate Schwall.
• Engelbrecht doubled to right field to allow Wick to score in the bottom of the ninth. The Warriors had two runners on base before Aurora shut the door for an 11-5 game one victory.
• Wick and Schwall had two hits apiece in the opener for the Warriors. Stancl picked up two RBIs.
• Kyle Baron (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) was dealt the loss in 5.1 innings after allowing nine runs and 11 hits.

GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS

• WLC struck first in the second inning. Ryan Michael (Racine, Wis./Lutheran) singled to right field and Josiah Boucher (Menasha, Wis./Menasha) scored on a throwing error to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
• Wisconsin Lutheran doubled its advantage in the third after Wick singled to left to score Engelbrecht giving the Warriors a 2-0 lead.
• The Warriors tacked on another run in the fifth as Brett Jakel (Reeseville, Wis./Waterloo) singled through the left side, plating Brock Vredeveld (Waterloo, Wis./Lakeside Lutheran).
• Jake Grollo (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls) gave Wisconsin Lutheran an insurance run in the eighth with a solo shot to right field for his fifth home run of the season, extending WLC's advantage to 4-0.
• Aurora scored six runs off six hits in the top of the ninth as the Spartans batted around in the inning. The Warriors went down in order in the bottom of the frame as Aurora completed the comeback for a 6-4 victory.
• The loss, coupled with a Dominican win over Marian in its doubleheader, ended Wisconsin Lutheran's hopes of a bid in the NACC Tournament.
• WLC pounded out 13 hits as a team in the nightcap but left 11 runners stranded on base.
• Schwall continued his hot day at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two doubles in game two. Four different Warriors collected two hits in the contest.
• Connor Rosin (Bonduel, Wis./Bonduel) had his best start of the season, tossing 8.1 innings allowing four earned runs and striking out six.
• Noah Schriefer (San Diego, Calif./California Lutheran) took the loss after allowing two runs.
• Saturday marked the final home games for seniors Wick and Scott Kamholtz (Wauwatosa, Wis./West).

FOR THE FOES

• Aurora pounded out 17 hits in game one. Four different Spartans collected three hits in the opener. Jeff Woods and Nick Turner had two RBIs apiece.
• Elias McMahon earned his sixth win of the season after throwing 7.0 innings and allowing four runs.
• Dillion Popovich had two hits in the nightcap for AU. Seven different Aurora players had a hit in game two.
• Chris Roycroft notched the win in relief for the Spartans, striking out two in an inning of work. Jeff Woods earned his NACC-leading sixth save of the year.

UP NEXT

• The Warriors will conclude their 2016 season on Tuesday at Ripon (10-23) for a single non-conference contest beginning at 4:00 p.m. at Francis Field. Wisconsin Lutheran defeated the Red Hawks 7-6 on April 26 at Neumann Family Field. Live stats will be available at WLCSports.com.