The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team headed to Rockford for an added non-conference game against Rockford University. The Warhawks (25-2) added the game against the Regents (18-12) last week after score cancellations earlier in the season.
Daryl Jackson started the Warhawks off right with a lead-off single to start the game. But Rockford was able to get out of the inning, stranding Jackson at third.
With the Regents keeping the powerful Warhawk offense in check, the momentum carried on the offensive end. Rockford loaded up the bases but wasn't able to light the scoreboard.
Dominik McVay (Mineral Point, Wis./Mineral Point) scored the first runs for the Warhawks in the top of the 2nd. A 2-RBI double from the sophomore put the Warhawks up 2-0.
Charlie Bogue (Mount Horeb, Wis./Mount Horeb) cleaned up McVay to give another run in the frame for a 3-0 lead.
Rockford was able to cut into the lead, adding their first run with a solo shot to left field. But that would be the final run for nearly 4 innings in a offensive stall from both teams.
In the top of the 7th, Bogue got the Warhawk bats going again with an RBI single to score McVay again. Later in the same inning,
Eli Frank (Bayport, Wis./Bay Port) scored Bogue on a sacrifice fly to give the Warhawks a 5-1 lead.
The Warhawks added some more insurance in the 8th, putting together another rally with a lead-off hit from
Adam Cootway (DePere, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran).
Sam Paden (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) brought Cootway around, before the Regents made a change on the mound. The new arm went three-up, three-down to limit the damage.
In the bottom of the 8th, Rockford closed the lead to just three runs on an RBI triple & sacrifice fly. But the Warhawks added five more runs in the top of the ninth to all but put away the game.
Cootway started the scoring of the frame with an RBI single.
Matt Scolan (Downers Grove, Ill./South) then "balked" his way into history, scoring his 226th career run on a balk. Scolan now holds the WIAC Career Runs record, breaking UW-Stevens Point Bradley Comer's record set last season.
Danny Hopper (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) had a sacrifice fly, as McVay hit his third double of the day to get the Warhawks to double digits. Jackson drew an HBP to give the Warhawks an 11-3 lead before Rockford got out of the inning.
The Warhawks closed out with just a single hit in the bottom of the ninth to pick up the non-conference win.
Dominik McVay (Mineral Point, Wis./Mineral Point) led the team with a 3-4 day with 3 RBIs.
Brady Malkow (Brodhead, Wis./Brodhead) picked up the win, pitching three shutout innings in relief. Malkow fanned five, only allowing one runner with a walk.
The Warhawks are back to the diamond tomorrow at UW-Oshkosh to wrap up the conference series against the Titans. First pitch is scheduled for 12 pm.
