The No. 3 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team retained its first-place standing in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference standings Wednesday with an 11-1 victory at UW-Eau Claire.
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The Warhawks (31-5 overall, 22-4 WIAC) saw their 11-game winning streak snapped in the opener with an 11-1 setback in seven innings before rebounding in the nightcap.
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UW-Whitewater broke open Game 2 with a four-run top of the fourth inning that included a run-scoring single by centerfielder
Zach Campbell (Burlington, Wis./Burlington), a two-run double by third baseman
Tucker Criswell (Tallahassee, Fla./Lawton Chiles) and a sacrifice bunt by right fielder
Jacob DeMeyer (Harshaw, Wis./Rhinelander) to plate a run.
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Pitcher
Matt O'Sullivan (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland) allowed one run and struck out 10 over eight innings to improve to 9-0 on the year.
Connor Moroder (Pewaukee, Wis./Pewaukee) pitched around a two-out walk for a scoreless ninth frame.
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Campbell finished with three hits, including a solo homer to lead off the game, and added two runs scored and four runs batted in. Designated hitter
Ben Wilkins (Sussex, Wis./Lake Country Lutheran) collected three hits, including one double, and tallied two runs scored and one RBI.
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Shortstop
Nick Santoro (Naperville, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) registered two hits, one run scored and one RBI, and second baseman
Sam Vomhof (DeForest, Wis./DeForest) and catcher
Ryan Norton (Fond du Lac, Wis./Fond du Lac) each reached base three times with two walks and one hit while scoring one run. First baseman
Donovan Brandl (Rudolph, Wis./Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln) also knocked in one run.
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In the first game, the Warhawks were held to a season-low two hits, and the Blugolds (5-31, 5-21) broke a 1-1 tie with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and three in the bottom of the fifth. UW-Eau Claire added five more in the bottom of the seventh to end the game via run rule.
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Left fielder
Matt Korman (Waterford, Wis./Waterford Union) plated a run for UW-W with a groundout in the fourth inning, and recorded one hit. Santoro reached base twice with one hit and one walk, and DeMeyer walked and scored one run.
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Pitcher
Westin Muir (Highlands Ranch, Colo./St. Charles North (Ill.)) dropped to 7-1 with the loss, tossing 4 2/3 innings. Brandl,
Hayden Fox (Stockton, Ill./Stockton) and
Trey Bretl (Marinette, Wis./Marinette) all appeared in relief.
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UW-Whitewater hosts UW-Eau Claire for two more league games this Saturday. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m. at Prucha Field at Miller Stadium.
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