WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The No. 6 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team scored early and held on late Saturday afternoon for a 7-2 triumph over Rutgers-Camden (N.J.) on its third day at the RussMatt Invitational at Chain of Lakes Park.
The Warhawks (6-1 overall) gave starting pitcher
Heath Renz (Jefferson, Wis./Jefferson) an early cushion, and the right-hander took it from there, allowing only one run on four hits and one walk while striking out six. Renz improved to 2-0 with the 89-pitch effort.
The Scarlet Raptors (7-5), who entered the contest on a four-game winning streak, scored a run and loaded the bases in the top of the eighth, but senior
Austin Finn (Oconomowoc/Kettle Moraine) and sophomore
Michael Kaska (Spring Grove, Ill./Richmond-Burton Community) combined to pitch out of the jam.
Rutgers-Camden put on its first two runners in the top of the ninth, but senior
Mike Nompleggi (Oconto Falls/Oconto Falls) retired the final three hitters he faced to finish the victory.
Junior centerfielder
Brett Krause (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls) provided the early run support, knocking in two with a two-out triple to left field and scoring on a throwing error on the relay throw.
UW-Whitewater added a fourth run in the second on a solo home run to deep right field by junior right fielder
Will Helbing (Waunakee, Wis./Waunakee), and plated another in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by junior designated hitter
Brent Feldner (Schererville, Ind./Marian Catholic).
The Warhawks tallied two insurance runs in the sixth on run-scoring hits by Helbing and sophomore left fielder
Matt Wary (Elk Grove, Ill./Elk Grove).
Krause finished 3-for-4 with one run scored and two runs batted in, and Helbing reached based three times and plated two runs. Feldner also collected two hits for UW-Whitewater, which finished with 12 hits as a team for the game.
The Warhawks have an off day Sunday before starting the second half of the Central Florida trip Monday against Southern Maine at 10:15 a.m. Central Time.
