Scarlet Hawks Spoil Home Opener For Warriors

MILWAUKEE (WLCSports.com) - The Wisconsin Lutheran College baseball team took an early lead in both games of its home-opening doubleheader Sunday afternoon, but the Warriors struggled defensively and dropped both games to Illinois Tech, 11-7 and 9-3, on a blustery day at Neumann Family Field.

THE BASICS

• Final Scores: Illinois Tech 11, Wisconsin Lutheran 7; Illinois Tech 9, Wisconsin Lutheran 3
• Records: Wisconsin Lutheran (2-10), Illinois Tech (8-4)
• Location: Neumann Family Baseball Field, Milwaukee, Wis.

GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS

• The Warriors jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first after Brett Jakel (Reeseville, Wis.) scored on a wild pitch and Joe Hanson (La Crosse, Wis.) followed with a sacrifice fly that plated KJ Banse (Racine, Wis.).
• Illinois Tech tied the score in the third on a two-base throwing error the scored two runners from scoring position.
• Wisconsin Lutheran jumped back in front in its half of the third when Banse singled up the middle scoring Jakel for a 3-2 lead.
• The Scarlet Hawks knotted the game again at 3-3 in the fourth on a RBI fielder's choice with the bases loaded.
• Hanson's second sac fly of the game in the fifth gave WLC a 4-3 lead after Banse crossed home plate after leading off the inning with a triple to right.
• IIT scored twice in each the sixth and seventh, capitalizing on five errors across the two innings to take a 7-4 lead. The four runs scored were all unearned.
• The Warriors got a run back in their half of the seventh when Spencer Michaelis (Wauwatosa, Wis.) reached on a fielding error that scored Banse.
• Illinois Tech broke open its two-run lead in the ninth with four runs on three hits for an 11-5 lead.
• WLC didn't go away quietly in the ninth as Johnny Offenbacher (Waukesha, Wis.) ripped a two-run single to center, scoring Gunner Amelunk (Wales, Wis.) and Kasey Zdroik (Plainfield, Wis.).
• Banse led the Warriors with a 4-for-5 performance at the plate, scoring three runs and driving in another.
• Jake Constien (Sun Prairie, Wis.) suffered the loss in 3.2 innings of relief for starter Jake Wiedower (St. Francis, Wis.).
• Wisconsin Lutheran stranded 11 runners on base and was hampered with seven errors.

GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS

• The Warriors jumped out to another early lead in game two behind consecutive RBI hits from Hanson and Wiedower in the first inning.
• Illinois Tech tied the score at 2-2 in the second on a RBI single and muffed throw that allowed a runner to score from second.
• Wisconsin Lutheran regained a 3-2 lead in the fourth on a RBI single through the left side from Brannigan Hart (Davie, Fla.).
• The scored stood 3-2 until the seventh when the Scarlet Hawks grabbed the lead back for good with two runs on two hits.
• The visitors added three more runs in the eighth on four hits and another two in the ninth to seal the win over WLC.
• Hanson, Wiedower, and Ryan Michael (Racine, Wis.) had two hits each in the game for the Warriors. Brock Vredeveld (Waterloo, Wis.) allowed just one earned run in 7.0 innings, but was dealt the loss.

FOR THE FOES

• DJ Rybski went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a RBI to lead IIT in the opener. John Zalewski struck out seven over 6.0 innings to earn the win on the hill.
• Ted Howell was 3-for-5 with a RBI and two runs scored for IIT in game two. Ryan Cantlin pitched a complete game, allowing three runs and striking out five.

UP NEXT

• Wisconsin Lutheran continues non-conference action Wednesday when it travels to UW-Oshkosh (10-2) for a single game at 3:00 p.m. Live audio will be available at WLCSports.com.