STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point baseball team (14-12, 6-4) mounted a four-run rally in the sixth inning of game one to take down No. 3 UW-Whitewater (22-4, 9-1) in a split with the league leaders on Saturday. The game one victory was a 4-3 come-from-behind win, but the Warhawks rallied for a 6-1 win in the nightcap.
Starting Pitcher
Cole Erickson (Deerfield, Wis./Deerfield) pitched his first complete game of the year to out-dual UWW ace Austin Jones in the game one victory. Erickson struck out six and scattered six hit in the win.
Ryan Stanicek (Loves Park, Ill./Boylan Catholic) had a pair of hits and drove in a run in the pivotal sixth inning.
Jordan Carlson (Madison, Wis./Madison La Follette) drove in the eventual game-winner with a single to cap the scoring.
William Iloncaie (East Troy, Wis./East Troy) and
Tommy Duddleston (Chicago, Ill./De La Salle Institute) each hit safely in both games for UWSP. Iloncaie scored the game-winner in game one.
Game 1 – UWSP 4, UWW 3
The Warhawks got on the board in the first, turning a leadoff double into a run, but Erickson got out of a jam with an inning-ending double play.
In the fifth, UWW score two times on two hits and a walk.
Ben Gerber (Stoughton, Wis./Stoughton) drew a one-out walk in the sixth to start the rally for UWSP. He scored from first on a double by
Clint Rose (Watertown, Wis./Watertown). After
Kyle Mrozinski (Ashwaubenon, Wis./Ashwaubenon) walked, Iloncaie singled to load the bases. Stanicek followed with a RBI single as the bases remained loaded.
John Popham (Waupaca, Wis./Waupaca ) drove in the tying run on a sacrifice fly that put runners at the corners. Carlson then singled to put the Pointers ahead.
Erickson locked down the win with just one batter over the minimum the rest of the way.
Game 2 – UWSP 1, UWW 6
UWW broke through first in game two with a two-run home run in the third inning. The Warhawks hit a leadoff home run in the fifth to push ahead to a 3-0 lead.
In the seventh, a leadoff walk opened the door for a three-run inning as UWW hit another long ball to take a 6-0 lead.
Iloncaie got the Pointers on the board in the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run.
In the bottom of the ninth, Stanicek drew a two-out walk. A single by Popham and a fielder's choice loaded the bases, but UWSP could not add a run.
The Pointers and Warhawks continue the series with a 12:00 p.m. doubleheader at University Field on Sunday.