FRANKLIN, Wis. (WLCSports.com) – Sophomore
Colt Ratliff (Oxford, Ga.) tied a school record with seven RBI, including the go-ahead grand slam, to send Wisconsin Lutheran College to an 11-9 game two win over Aurora on Friday at Franklin Field. The Spartans outslugged the Warriors 28-18 in the first game of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference doubleheader. It marked the Warriors' first win over the NACC perennial power since the 2014 season.
GAME 1
The opening game was a high-scoring rollercoaster, as both teams traded big innings. The Spartans jumped ahead with a three-run third, but the Warriors responded with a five-run bottom half to take a 7-4 lead. AU, however, exploded for four runs in the fourth, two in the fifth, and then delivered the knockout punch with an 11-run sixth inning, seizing control of the game. WLC added three runs in the seventh and four more in the eighth to come within four at 21-17, but a seven-run Aurora eighth secured its run-rule win.
For Wisconsin Lutheran, sophomore
Aiden Montgomery (St. Louis, Mo.) led the way, going 3-for-6 with a homerun, a triple, and three RBI, while sophomore
Ian Rintelman (Muskego, Wis.), senior
Nolan Hodgins (Caledonia, Wis.), and junior
Lucas Oswald (Muskego, Wis.) each homered as well. Oswald and freshman
Ryan Pierquet (Chilton, Wis.) drove in three runs each. Senior
Jaime Miner (Erie, Ill.) took the loss after allowing five earned runs in relief.
Dominick Curcio went a perfect 6-for-6 with six RBI and six runs scored for the Spartans. Joe Lukancic also went 4-for-7 with five RBI and three runs scored, while Kyle Mack added four hits of his own. Anthony Consiglio earned the win, tossing 4.0 innings in relief while allowing six runs (five earned).
GAME 2
AU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first, capitalizing on a throwing error and a pair of singles. The Warriors responded in the second, scoring twice on a combination of a passed ball and a groundout.
After falling behind 5-2 following an Aurora three-run rally in the third, WLC began chipping away. Ratliff's two-run homer in the fifth brought Wisconsin Lutheran within one, but it was an explosive sixth inning that turned the game around. With two outs and the bases loaded, Ratliff crushed a grand slam to left field, putting the Warriors ahead 11-6.
Aurora attempted a late rally, scoring in the seventh and eighth, but freshman
Colin Nigl (Neenah, Wis.) closed the door over the final two frames, including a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his first collegiate save.
Ratliff went 2-for-3 with two homeruns, a school-record tying seven RBI, and two runs scored. Four other players added one hit apiece. Senior
Matt Brissette (Mukwonago, Wis.) picked up his first win of the season, pitching 6.0 innings and allowing five earned runs.
Lukancic went 4-for-4 with four runs scored for the Spartans (10-9, 5-1 NACC). Adrian Ruiz took the loss for AU, surrendering six runs in just one inning of relief.
WLC (6-11, 3-3 NACC) is next scheduled to host Concordia Wisconsin (12-7, 4-2 NACC) in a NACC doubleheader on Tuesday, April 1 at Neumann Family Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. Live coverage links can be found at WLCSports.com.
