WAUWATOSA, Wis. (WLCSports.com) – Wisconsin Lutheran College fell to Concordia Chicago by scores of 10-3 and 4-0 on Saturday in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Senior Day doubleheader at Neumann Family Field.
Game 1: Concordia Chicago 10, Wisconsin Lutheran 3
The Cougars (19-16, 14-6 NACC) capitalized on defensive miscues in the opening frame, scoring all six runs with only four hits as four of the runs were unearned. Three RBI singles highlighted the inning, while a steal of home and a wild pitch also contributed to the early surge.
The Warriors (9-27, 3-17 NACC) answered in the third inning when junior
Ian Rintelman (Muskego, Wis.) delivered a two-run single, scoring sophomore
Ryan Pierquet (Chilton, Wis.) and freshman
Dawsen Burington (Appleton, Wis.) to cut the deficit to 6-2. WLC added its final run in the sixth on senior
Lucas Oswald's (Muskego, Wis.) RBI single.
CUC steadily extended its lead with single runs in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and eighth innings. Brandon Mahler paced Concordia Chicago offensively, going 2-for-5 with two RBIs, while Richie Sperando added two hits and two RBIs. Ryan Renella earned the win, allowing three runs on six hits over six innings with four walks and six strikeouts.
Senior
Oliver Lopeztello (Chicago, Ill.) and junior
Colt Ratliff (Oxford, Ga.) each had two hits to lead Wisconsin Lutheran's nine-hit effort. Rintelman drove in two runs, and Oswald finished with an RBI. Junior
Cody Fredrick (Oconomowoc, Wis.) allowed just two earned runs on eight hits over five innings while striking out eight.
Game 2: Concordia Chicago 4, Wisconsin Lutheran 0
The Cougars broke a scoreless tie in the second inning with an RBI single. CUC added three more runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by an RBI double, run-scoring single, and a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 4-0.
That would be more than enough support for Concordia Chicago starter Matthew Licardi, who tossed seven shutout innings, allowing six hits with two walks and three strikeouts to earn the victory.
The Warriors threatened in several innings but stranded 10 runners on base. Pierquet and Burington each recorded two hits to lead WLC, while Lopeztello, Rintelman, and Ratliff added one hit apiece. Oswald took the loss despite an eight-inning effort, allowing four runs with three walks and three strikeouts.
Cam Buckley led the Cougars offensively with three hits and two RBIs, while Jake Mahler also collected three hits and drove in a run. Brendan Holloway and Brandon Mahler each added two hits as CUC totaled 13 hits in the game.
Wisconsin Lutheran honored seniors
Zach Alburg (Menomonee Falls, Wis.), Lopeztello,
Austin Preiss (South Milwaukee, Wis.),
Eli Michaelis (Wauwatosa, Wis.), Oswald,
Jordan Bierdemann (Franklin, Wis.), and
Adam Meier (Elkhorn, Wis.) during a postgame ceremony.
The Warriors next host Marian (12-20, 6-14 NACC) on Tuesday for a 12 p.m. NACC doubleheader at Neumann Family Field, their final home games of the season. Live coverage links can be found at WLCSports.com.
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