STEVENS POINT, Wis. – A pair of three-run innings highlighted by two-run home runs powered the No. 15 UW-Stevens Point baseball team (30-11) past No. 17 Augustana (38-8) by a 6-4 final in the NCAA Tournament Regional opening game on Friday.
Kamden Oliver (Viroqua, Wis./Viroqua) broke up a scoreless tie in the fourth with a two-run opposite field home run. He had two hits, three RBI and two runs scored on the day.
Brenden Canterbury (Waupaca, Wis./Waupaca) belted a two-run home run an inning later in what proved to the be the difference. He also scored twice with two hits and two RBI.
Bradley Comer (Rhinelander, Wis./Rhinelander) singled in the first and
Trent Van Ess (Two Rivers, Wis./Two Rivers) singled in the third, but both innings saw the Pointers leave a runner aboard.
Anthony Tomczak (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) drew a one-out walk in the fourth. Oliver followed with a two-run home run to left for a 2-0 lead. Canterbury singled and
Quin Henwood (Appleton, Wis./North) drew a walk.
Logan Homolka (Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield) roped a single through the right side plating Canterbury for a 3-0 advantage.
The Vikings got on the board in the fifth on two hits, including a two-out double.
UWSP got right back to work in the bottom of the frame. Comer drew a base on balls with one away. Two batters later, Oliver doubled to right-center as UWSP got the run back. Canterbury followed with a two-run home run to left and the lead was 6-1.
Augustana got two runs in the sixth on three hits. Reliever
Austin Syvertson (Randolph, Wis./Randolph) stranded the bases loaded as the lead remained 6-3.
The Vikings turned three hits into a run in the seventh. Syvertson again held the lead by stranding two more runners.
Casey Pickering (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) earned his seventh win of the year with 5.0 innings. He struck out three. Syvertson tossed a season-high 2.2 innings.
Sidney Ferry (Paw Paw, Mich./Homeschooled) tossed a perfect ninth to record his 23rd career save.
The Pointers will face Webster in game 4 of the Regional on Saturday (May 20). First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m. Webster defeated Loras, 15-0, in game 2. Loras and Augustana will play an elimination game at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.