The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team let their bats fly in the WIAC opener. The Warhawks (11-0, 2-0 WIAC) hit eight home runs in the two victories over the Blugolds (6-7, 0-2 WIAC). 

Sam Paden (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) recorded 6 RBIs with two home runs in the 12-2 victory in the first game. Matt Scolan (Downers Grove, Ill./South) added two of his own homeruns in the 10-1 second game win.

Paden's first homer added the first Warhawk runs of the day, putting the Warhawks up 2-0 early. Andy Thies (Tallahassee, Fla./Lawton Chiles) followed it up with his own homer in the next inning with UWW taking the 6-0 lead after only three innings. 

The Blugolds managed to get a few runners on, but the Warhawk defense kept leaving them stranded, keeping UWEC blank on the scoreboard. The Blugolds finally scored in the top of the 5th, with a two-RBI single to close the gap to just four runs.

UW-Whitewater answered right back, scoring three in the bottom of the fifth. Paden added a two-RBI single to keep the bases going with two-outs.

Paden capped off the first game with a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to enforce the run rule.

Cade Hansen (New Braunfels, Texas/Smithson Valley) had the win on the mound, going 6.0 innings with six Ks. 

In the second game, UW-Eau Claire had the first statement with a lead-off home-run. The Warhawks couldn't find an immediate answer, with the first six batters going down in order. 

The Warhawks' offense turned on in the third, scoring five runs in the bottom of the inning. Adam Cootway (DePere, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran) highlighted the inning with a three-run homer. Danny Hopper (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) followed up Cootway's bomb with a triple of his own, but was stranded at third base.

Matt Scolan (Downers Grove, Ill./South) pushed the Warhawks ahead with a two-run homer that went over the scoreboard in right field in the bottom of the fifth. 

The home run total went up to eight in the sixth, with Paden & Scolan each with their own tater in the inning. 

On the day, Paden went 5-for-8 from the plate with three HRs and seven RBIs. Scolan was 4-for-6 with two HRs and five RBIs. Jack Hagen (San Clemente, Cal./San Clemente) was the pitcher of recorded with 7.0 innings pitched, 6 Ks, and only five hits. 

The Warhawks wrap up the series against UW-Eau Claire tomorrow. The first game of the doubleheader is scheduled to start at 12 PM.