DE PERE, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point baseball team (8-4) put on a pair of impressive performances in a sweep at St. Norbert () on Tuesday. The Pointers racked up 19 hits in a 16-5 game one victory in eight innings. In game two, UWSP pitching shut out the Green Knights, 5-0, in a two-hitter.
Sophomore
Aaron Simmons (Franklin, Wis./Franklin) hit safely in both games, extending his current hit streak to 13 games, including all 12 this season. He had three RBI and scored a run in game one and drove in a run in game two.
Payton Nelson (Wausau, Wis./West) had four hits on the day. He drove in three in game one.
Kyle Mrozinski (Ashwaubenon, Wis./Ashwaubenon) had three hits, three RBI and scored three times in game one.
Nate Jackan (Wisconsin Rapids, Wis./Lincoln),
Bradley Hansen (Racine, Wis./Union Grove),
Nolan Matson (Neillsville, Wis./Neillsville),
Ryan Stanicek (Loves Park, Ill./Boylan Catholic),
Tommy Duddleston (Chicago, Ill./De La Salle Institute) and
Bradley Comer (Rhinelander, Wis./Rhinelander) all had multiple hits on the day. Hansen and Jackan had three RBI each. Duddleston and Matson each drove in two.
Game 1 – UWSP 16, SNC 5 (8)
Mrozinski led off the game with a solo home run to put UWSP in front, 1-0. The Green Knights responded with a run in the second and SNC took the lead with three in the third.
Stanicek drew a one-out walk to spark a big rally in the fourth. Consecutive singles by Hansen, Jackan, Duddleston and Mrozinski pushed three runs home to tie the game at 4-4. After a pitching changes, Simmons doubled to drive in two more. Nelson continued the rally with an RBI single as the Pointers moved in front, 7-4.
Comer started another big inning with a single in the seventh. Matson drove him in with a single. After a walk to Stanicek, Hansen drove home two with a triple. Jackan followed with an RBI double. Duddleston walked and Mrozinski drove in a run with a ground-rule double. A groundout by Simmons plated another and Nelson hit a single to round out the six-run inning for a 13-4 lead.
After the Green Knights plated one in the bottom of the seventh, UWSP got back to work in the eighth. Matson, Stanicek and
Weston Nelson (Sheboygan, Wis./North) had consecutive singles to start the frame as the first run crossed the plate. Jackan drove in another with a fielder's choice. Duddleston walked and Simmons was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Nelson singled to drive in one as the Pointers rounded out the scoring in the 16-5 win in eight innings.
Will Iloncaie (East Troy, Wis./East Troy) earned his first career win on the mound. He pitch 5.0 with two strikeouts.
Mack Blashka (Neenah, Wis./St. Mary Catholic) tossed two hitless innings and
Max Herro (Dousman, Wis./Kettle Moraine) struck out on in an inning of work.
Game 2 – UWSP 5, SNC 0
The Pointers took the lead in the fourth. Stanicek was hit by a pitch for the second time in as many plate appearances to start the inning. Jackan sacrificed him to second and he came home on a double from Duddleston. Mrozinski was hit by a pitch and then Simmons hit an RBI single to make it 2-0.
UWSP extended the lead in the fifth. Comer doubled to begin the frame and scored on a single from Matson. Stanicek singled and, two batters later, Hansen plated both runners with a double to put the Pointers ahead, 5-0.
Tristan Brewer (Grantsburg, Wis./Grantsburg) tossed 5.0 to earn the win. He allowed just one hit and struck out two. Zach Haupt struck out two in 2.0 innings and gave up the other hit.
Mitchel Neubauer (Brussels, Wis./Southern Door) and
Alex Stodola (Coleman, Wis./Coleman) each pitched a hitless frame with Stodola striking out two.
The Pointers open conference play in the home opener on Saturday (March 30). First pitch of the doubleheader against UW-La Crosse is set for 12:00 p.m. at University Field.
