MAUSTON, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point baseball team (13-11, 5-5) finished its initial league series against Finlandia (4-20, 1-11) with a split on Monday. The Pointers put up a 22-7 run-rule victory in game one. In game two, a ninth-inning rally fell short in a 9-7 loss.
Bradley Comer (Rhinelander, Wis./Rhinelander) led UWSP offense with five hits, including a home run, on the day. He drove in five runs, four in game one, and scored four times on the day.
Will Iloncaie (East Troy, Wis./East Troy) drove in a pair of runs in each game and collected three hits on the day. He scored three times as well.
Aaron Simmons (Franklin, Wis./Franklin),
Kyle Mrozinski (Ashwaubenon, Wis./Ashwaubenon) and
Ryan Stanicek (Loves Park, Ill./Boylan Catholic) all had multiple RBI in game one. The trio combined to score nine runs on the day.
Game 1 – UWSP 22, Finlandia 7 (7)
The Lions jumped ahead with three first-inning runs on two hits and a UWSP error.
The Pointers quickly erased the deficit in the bottom of the frame. Mrozinski led off with a double and scored on an error. Comer and Iloncaie had RBI in the inning as the Pointers tied it up at 3-3.
In the second, the first six UWSP batters reached and Comer hit a home run to put the Pointers in front 8-3.
Weston Nelson (Sheboygan, Wis./North) capped off the six-run frame with an RBI single.
With two away in the third, UWSP turned a Finlandia error into a rally. Iloncaie drove in a two-out run with a single. After consecutive walks loaded the bases, Stanicek unloaded them with a three-run triple for a 13-3 lead.
The Pointers kept up the scoring in the fourth with three runs on two hits and another Lions' error. Finlandia got two runs back in the fifth on three hits to make it 16-5.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Pointers kept swinging. Three hits, five walks and two hit batters produced a five spot to extend the advantage to 21-5.
After Finlandia scored twice in the sixth, UWSP got consecutive extra-base hits from
Tommy Duddleston (Chicago, Ill./De La Salle Institute) and Mrozinski to complete the scoring.
Tristan Brewer (Grantsburg, Wis./Grantsburg) pitched the first 5.0 innings to improve to 4-0 on the season. He struck out nine.
Max Herro (Dousman, Wis./Kettle Moraine) tossed the final 2.0 with one strikeout.
Game 2 – UWSP 7, Finlandia 9
Finlandia again took a first inning lead. Two runs scored on just one hit. The Lions built the lead in the second with four runs on three hits for a 6-0 advantage.
The Pointers offense finally broke through in the sixth.
Payton Nelson (Wausau, Wis./West) and Comer singled with one out. Iloncaie doubled to left-center to push both runners home and cut the deficit to 6-2.
The Lions got the two runs back in the seventh on three hits and a sac fly. UWSP got a run in the bottom of the inning after Duddleston walked and circled the bases on a failed pick-off to make it 8-3.
A pair of hits and a UWSP error gave the Lions a run in the eighth and Finlandia held a 9-3 lead until the bottom of the ninth.
Weston Nelson (Sheboygan, Wis./North) reached on an error to begin the inning. Singles by
Bradley Hansen (Racine, Wis./Union Grove) and Duddleston plated the first run. After a walk loaded the bases, Simmons drove in a run with a groundout. Another walk reloaded the bases and a fielder's choice pushed home a run to make it 9-6. A wild pitch allowed another run to score, but a deep fly out ended the rally as UWSP fell. 9-7.
The Pointers return home to face UW-Platteville on Friday (April 19). First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
