For the third time in the last four outings, and the seventh time this season, UW-Whitewater split a doubleheader Thursday. The Warhawks lost to Marian University 6-4 and then won the nightcap 13-6 in games played at Herr-Baker Field in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. UW-W, 24-13 overall, will watch this weekend as UW-Oshkosh and UW-Stevens Point conclude their Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference seasons with four games each. The Warhawks, who have finished their league games, are in a tight race for the league championship and the number one seed in the WIAC postseason tournament.
game one box score
game two box score
The Sabres hit UW-W with a four spot in the first inning without the benefit of an extra base hit or a Warhawk error.
Whitewater began the road back with a RBI single off the bat of Travis Wessels (Tomah/Tomah) in the fourth. Marian scored what proved to be the winning run in the bottom of the fifth, making it 5-1. Kevin Zalnis (Woodstock, IL/Woodstock) singled in two runs and Rob Coe (Appleton/North) doubled in another in the eighth, cutting the deficit to 5-4, but Marian added another run in the eighth for the final score.
Freshman Mitchell Gardner went seven innings to pick up his first win of the year for Marian, with Nathan Raddant earning his first save with a ninth inning of work that included two strikeouts. Zalnis had two of Whitewater's eight hits.
The Warhawks scored early and often in game two, beginning with two runs in both the first and second innings. Zalnis knocked in two more in the fourth with a double to lead 6-0. Marian broke through with a run in the bottom of the fourth.
UW-W put the game out of reach with five runs in the fifth, highlighted by Ryan Leavitt (Merrill/Merrill)'s two run double and Matt Beyer (Janesville/Parker)'s two run homer. Marian scored three in the bottom half of the inning and Whitewater's lead stood at 11-4 after five.
Whitewater added a run on a balk in the sixth, and Tom Zimmerman (Pewaukee/Pewaukee)'s round-tripper ended Whitewater scoring in the eighth. Marian scored twice in the bottom of the eighth.
Leavitt and Beyer tied team season highs with four hits apiece, helping UW-W tie its season high with eighteen hits. They both also scored twice and drove in two. Ben Kuhlmann (Minneapolis, MN/Southwest) went 3x3 and drew three walks. UW-W used four pitchers, with Williams Lovera (Tinaquillo, Venezuela/Tinaquillo) earning the win with the start and four innings of work.
Marian University is 18-14.
UW-Whitewater will play Concordia University Tuesday, May 5, with the doubleheader getting underway at 2:00. The games will be played at 550 N. Silverbrook Drive in West Bend.
For additional information: John Vodenlich, UW-W coach
