The No. 18 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team took Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium for competition for the first time in nearly 22 months Saturday afternoon, topping UW-Stevens Point in consecutive games to start the 2021 season.
The Warhawks (2-0 overall) downed the Pointers 9-4 in the first game before hanging on late for a 6-4 triumph in the nightcap.
In the opener, UW-Whitewater set the tone early with a six-run first inning, and three pitchers combined to allow only one earned run.
Centerfielder
Zach Campbell (Burlington, Wis./Burlington) highlighted the offense with four hits, including two singles, one double and one triple, while scoring two runs and knocking in three with a bases-clearing double to left center in the opening frame.
Right fielder
Taylor White (Highlands Ranch, Colo./ThunderRidge) knocked in a pair of runs with a double to left in the first and finished with two hits, and third baseman
Tucker Criswell (Tallahassee, Fla./Lawton Chiles) tallied two runs batted in on a bases-loaded walk in the first and a two-out, run-scoring double in the sixth.
Catcher
Ryan Norton (Fond du Lac, Wis./Fond du Lac) smashed a solo home run off the left field foul pole in the seventh and scored two runs. Shortstop
Nick Santoro (Naperville, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) totaled two hits and two runs scored, and designated hitter
Ian Drays (Whitewater, Wis./Jefferson) posted two hits and one run.
Westin Muir (St. Charles, Ill./North) tossed four shutout innings to start the contest, stranding a combined four runners, including three in scoring position, in the third and fourth innings.
Nick Cairo (Kenosha, Wis./Bradford) earned the win with three innings of relief, and
Connor Moroder (Pewaukee, Wis./Pewaukee) finished the game by tossing the final two frames.
UW-W pitchers combined to strand 10 UW-Stevens Point runners in the game.
In Game 2, the Pointers (0-2) held a 2-0 advantage through the first 3 1/2 innings before the Warhawks plated two in the fourth, one in the fifth, two in the sixth and one more in the eighth.
UW-Stevens Point loaded the bases with two outs and two runs already in during the top of the ninth, but
Connor Spear (Highland, Ind./Mount Carmel (Ill.)) struck out the final batter to escape the jam.
Matt O'Sullivan (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland) tossed the first six innings, striking out 10 and allowing only four hits for the win.
Kade Lancour (Nekoosa, Wis./Nekoosa) pitched a pair of scoreless frames in his Warhawk debut before handing the ball to Spear, who pitched the ninth. The staff combined to strand nine more Pointer runners.
Criswell finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Santoro collected two hits, one run scored and one RBI. First baseman
Donovan Brandl (Rudolph, Wis./Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln) scored two runs and knocked in one run, and left fielder
Matt Korman (Waterford, Wis./Waterford Union) placed a pair of runs.
UW-Whitewater hosts UW-Oshkosh for a doubleheader Tuesday. First pitch at Miller Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.
