STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point baseball team was swept in a doubleheader against conference champion No. UW-La Crosse 8-4 and 7-6 in 10 innings on a warm Friday afternoon at University Field.

No. 4 UW-La Crosse 8, UW-Stevens Point 4

La Crosse scored six of their eight runs after the seventh inning and held off multiple Stevens Point rallies in an 8-4 victory.

The Eagles (30-7, 17-1 WIAC) scored first in the second inning on an RBI single by Ben Morgan. However, that lead was short lived as Turner Doornink (Clintonville, WI/Clintonville) hit a two-run home run to centerfield in the fourth inning to give the Pointers (20-18, 9-9 WIAC) a 2-1 lead. The Eagles then tied the game in the top of the fifth innings on a solo home run by Taylor Kohlwey.

The Eagles then scored two runs in the top of the seventh to take a 4-2 lead. But the Pointers answered right back when Ben Diedrick (Kimberly, WI/Kimberly) hit a pinch hit solo home run in the bottom of the inning. After the Eagles added a run in the eighth, Cody Hanke (Marathon, WI/Marathon) hit a solo home run in the next half inning to make it 5-4.

But the Eagles offense was too strong for the Pointers, as they added three runs in the top of the ninth, including a leadoff home run by Justin Anderson. Diedrick doubled to lead off the bottom of the inning, but the Pointers were unable to capitalize.

Caleb Boushley picked up the win for the Eagles, allowing four runs on seven hits over eight innings while striking out four. Chris Hetzel (Oshkosh, WI/Lourdes) took the loss for the Pointers, giving up two runs in 1.2 innings. Mark Kowalke (Baraboo, WI/Baraboo) started for the Pointers and had a no-decision, allowing two runs and striking out two in six innings.

Anderson and Joel Zyhowski each had three hits for the Eagles, while Nate Heili, Alex Brown and Carter Hoffman all had two hits apiece. Diedrick and Hanke had two hits each, as the Pointers scored all their runs via the home run.   

No. 4 UW-La Crosse 7, UW-Stevens Point 6  (10 inn.)

Logan Mallek pitched five scoreless innings in relief to pick up the win and Travis Buxton-Verstegen hit the game winning single in the tenth inning to lead the Eagles to a 7-6 win.

Tied at one going into the sixth inning, the Eagles scored four runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 5-1 lead. After singles by Alex Cordova and Kohlwey, Anderson hit a two-run double to left. Hoffman then tripled to right center, and came all the way around to score on an error.

The Pointers answered right back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring five runs to take a 6-5 lead. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Doornink hit a two-run single to left scoring Ray Greco (Downers Grove, IL/North) and Sawyer Schultz (Appleton, WI/North). That was followed by an RBI single by Peter Strommen (Madison, WI/East) and an RBI double by Parker Sadowski (Beaver Dam, WI/Beaver Dam). William Iloncaie (East Troy, WI/East Troy) later gave the Pointers the lead on a sacrifice fly.

The Eagles tied the game in the top of the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Anderson, and the game remained tied at six as the teams went to extra innings. Anderson then led off the tenth with a double and advanced to third on a throwing error, and scored the game-winning run on a one out single by Buxton-Verstegen.

Drew Spaeth (Stratford, WI/Stratford) took the loss, allowing two runs over three innings. Starter Alex Thompson (Tomah, WI/Tomah) allowed five runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings. Leading the way offensively was Doornink, with two hits and two RBIs. Strommen had two hits with an RBI and run scored while Sadowski finished with three hits, a run and RBI.

Buxton-Verstegen had three hits for the Eagles, while Anderson, Kohlwey and Hoffman all had two hits. Hoffman had two RBIs and Anderson three RBIs.

The Pointers and Eagles are back at it again tomorrow, Sat., May 7 at University Field, with games scheduled for Noon and 3 p.m.