Jeff Donovan (Wauwatosa/East) totaled four hits, five runs, and seven RBIs in a doubleheader sweep of UW-La Crosse on Friday at Prucha Field in Whitewater.  Donovan drove in three of his RBIs in a 10-4 game one win and the other four with a grand slam in a 11-6 game two victory.  UW-Whitewater improves to 28-8 overall and 17-5 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference while La Crosse drops to 23-14 overall and 11-11 in league play.

game one box score
game two box score
photo gallery

A Matt Beyer (Janesville/Parker) single in the bottom of the second plated Travis Wessels (Tomah/Tomah) put UW-W up 1-0 and they never trailed again for the rest of the doubleheader.  La Crosse did tie the game in the top of the third on a solo homer by centerfielder Cole Cefalu, but they never posed a true threat in either game after that.

A four-run third by the Warhawks, including an RBI single by Donovan, an RBI double by Brent Young (Brisbane, Austrailia/Mt. Maria), an RBI single by Dylan Friend (Burlington/Burlington) and another run scoring on a throwing error put the Warhawks up 5-1.

The Eagles made in 5-2 in the top of the fourth but UW-W extended their lead to 8-2 in the bottom of the fourth courtesy of an RBI double by Donovan, an RBI single by Jared Fon (Germantown/Germantown) and an RBI single by Young.

Each team scored two more runs in the game to bring the final to 10-4.

Riley Tincher (Oregon/Oregon) went the distance scattering eleven hits and four runs while striking out six to improve to 8-2 this season.

In game two UW-W jumped on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first with RBI singles by Andrew Eichstaedt (Appleton/North) and Fon.  Another five runs, including Donovan's grand slam, in the bottom of the second gave the Warhawks a 7-0 advantage.

Two more in each of the fourth and fifth innings made it 11-0 and allowed head coach John Vodenlich to use some of his reserves.  La Crosse did battle back to score six runs, but UW-W preserved the victory.

Not only did Donovan do damage at the plate, he pitched six and a third innings.  He gave up ten hits and four runs while walking three and striking out six.  Donovan remains unbeaten this season with a record of 9-0.

In an afternoon where the Warhawks totaled 24 hits all but one starter recorded a hit in game one, and all but three in game two.

Dylan Friend (Burlington/Burlington) joined Donovan in the home run club, belting a solo shot, his third of the year, in the fifth inning of game two.

Fon was also a major contributor to the run total knocking in four for the twinbill while scoring two.

UW-W is currently in sole possession of second place in the WIAC, one game behind UW-Stevens Point.  If the two teams tie after regular season play, which concludes Saturday with both teams playing doubleheaders, UW-Stevens Point holds the tiebreaker and would host the WIAC tournament next weekend, May 11-12.  If Point is swept and Whitewater sweeps La Crosse, the Warhawks will take the WIAC title outright and host the conference tournament.

These two teams will face-off again on Saturday in a twinbill beginning at noon at Prucha Field.  Saturday will also see UW-W honoring one of its own, naming the baseball facility after James B. Miller at a dedication ceremony between games.  There will be a tailgate during game two, with food and beverages provided. The tailgate will be located in the Miller Stadium Hawk's Nest (down the right field line). 

For additional information, John Vodenlich