Wisconsin Lutheran Rebounds Big Against Regents

BELOIT, Wis. (WLCSports.com) - Wisconsin Lutheran College rebounded from a 6-1 game one loss with a 14-3 seven-inning game two win for a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference doubleheader split with Rockford on Friday at Pohlman Field. 

A two-run home run in the first inning gave the Regents (9-15, 4-6 NACC) an early 2-0 lead over the Warriors (3-18, 2-8 NACC) in the opener. After placing a runner on base in each of the first three innings, the Warriors finally broke through in the fourth when senior Ryan Dominick (Bartlett, Ill.) scored an unearned run on a wild pitch and throwing error.

RU added a pair of runs in the fifth inning off two hits and an error for a 4-1 lead. WLC threatened in both the sixth and seventh, but stranded a pair of runners on base in both frames. Rockford tallied a RBI single in the seventh and sacrifice fly in the eighth for the final 6-1 margin.

Senior Danny Cain (Jackson, Wis.) went 2-for-4 at the plate for Wisconsin Lutheran, while four other players posted one hit each.

A pair of first-inning walks turned into two runs for the Warriors in game two, as junior Henry Strupp (Watertown, Wis.) and Dominick scored on an error for an early 2-0 lead.

A two-out RBI double in the second, one-out RBI double in the third, and a leadoff homer in the fourth suddenly put the Regents in front 3-2.

In the fifth inning, WLC drew five walks, including two with the bases loaded by junior Foster Engelhardt (North Richland Hills, Texas) and freshman Kason McFadden (Sachse, Texas). Sophomore Noah Zaccanti (Geneva, Ill.) also cleared the bases with a three-RBI double to put Wisconsin Lutheran ahead 7-3.

The Warriors plated four runs on one hit in the sixth inning, as freshman Eli Michaelis (Wauwatosa, Wis.) scored on a fielder's choice, Zaccanti's two-run single scored Dominick and senior Carter Raabe (Mukwonago, Wis.), and Zaccanti later scored on a wild pitch.

WLC, which drew 12 walks in the game, added its last three runs in the seventh on a two-RBI double from Dominick, who also came across to score on a wild pitch. 

Zaccanti finished 2-for-4 with five RBI and two runs scored. Dominick went 1-for-2 with four runs, three walks, and two RBI. Michaelis scored three times in addition to a hit and a walk. Junior Noah Eggert (Waukesha, Wis.) improved to 2-0 on the season after allowing three runs over 6.0 innings. He scattered eight hits and fanned two.

Wisconsin Lutheran travels to Lisle, Illinois tomorrow for a 12 p.m. NACC doubleheader against Benedictine (15-7, 6-2 NACC). Live coverage links will be available at WLCSports.com.