RANTOUL, Ill. (WLCSports.com) - Wisconsin Lutheran College concluded its opening weekend of the 2026 season with a 5-3 defeat to Beloit on Sunday at Rantoul Family Sports Complex.
The Warriors (0-3) wasted no time scoring as sophomore
Ryan Pierquet (Chilton, Wis.) led off the game with a single up the middle, stole second base, and scored on the next at-bat when senior
Zach Alburg (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) singled to center field. The Bucs loaded the bases in the second inning, but junior
Cody Fredrick (Oconomowoc, Wis.) escaped the jam with a strikeout to keep WLC up 1-0 early.
Wisconsin Lutheran added a run in the fourth on a RBI double to the left field corner from freshman Dawsen Burlington (Appleton, Wis.), plating senior
Eli Michaelis (Wauwatosa, Wis.). BC knotted the game at 2-2 with a run in each of the fourth and fifth innings.
The Warriors reclaimed the lead in their half of the sixth inning on a perfectly executed double steal with junior
Aiden Montgomery (St. Louis, Mo.) stealing home and Michaelis swiping second base. Beloit answered back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame as four consecutive batters reached base to lead 4-3.
WLC threatened in the eighth inning with bases loaded and just one out, but the Bucs got a pair of swinging strikeouts to keep the lead at 4-3. BC added an insurance run in its half of the eighth, extending the lead to 5-3, and Wisconsin Lutheran stranded the tying run on base in the ninth as the final score held, 5-3.
Montgomery paced the Warriors offensively, going 3-for-4 with a run scored, while Alburg added two hits and a RBI. Fredrick struck out six and did not allow an earned run in 4.2 innings on the mound but did not factor into the decision.
Belot (2-1) was led by Jacopo Tamburini, Blake Nelson, and Parker Krcmar who each had a pair of hits. Bryce Lermer earned the win with 3.0 innings in relief, and Caleb Lasher credited with the save with 3.0 shutout innings to close the game.
WLC kicks off its spring break trip next Sunday when it travels to Fort Myers, Florida, for the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic with a doubleheader against Alfred St. (1-11) at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. ET at Terry Park Sports Complex.
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