The No. 17 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team suffered its first loss of the 2020 season Sunday, falling 8-6 in a non-conference game against Spalding (Ky.) at Derby City Field in Louisville, Ky.
 
The Warhawks (2-1 overall) took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the seventh on a two-run homer by senior centerfielder Noah Jensen (Kenosha, Wis./Tremper). The team added a run in the top of the eighth as sophomore pinch runner Jason Abatto (Delafield, Wis./Kettle Moraine) scored on a wild pitch.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, the Eagles (2-1) plated four runs to take the lead for good.
 
Junior shortstop Nick Santoro (Naperville, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) posted three hits and three runs to lead UW-Whitewater, which held an 11-8 advantage in hits for the game. Senior right fielder Alex Doud (Waukesha, Wis./Mukwonago) finished 3-for-4 with one double, one triple and one run batted in, and Jensen collected two hits, two runs scored and three RBIs. Sophomore third baseman Matt Korman (Waterford, Wis./Waterford Union) knocked in one run.
 
Freshman Trey Bretl (Marinette, Wis./Marinette) took the loss in relief. Senior Connor Moroder (Pewaukee, Wis./Pewaukee) started the contest and pitched four innings, allowing one earned run.
 
Korman plated Santoro in the top of the first to give the Warhawks an early lead. Spalding responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a 2-1 advantage.
 
Neither team scored again until the fifth, when Jensen doubled home Santoro and Doud knocked in Jensen. The Eagles tallied twice in the bottom of the frame to re-take the lead at 4-3, setting up the final three innings.
 
UW-Whitewater returns to action Feb. 28-29 at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind. The team will face fifth-ranked Heidelberg (Ohio) on the 28th at 1 p.m. Central Time before facing Baldwin Wallace (Ohio) and Anderson (Ind.) on the 29th at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Central Time, respectively.