Stout sweeps Pointers first time ever in four-game series

UW-Stout 4, UW-Stevens Point 2 | UW-Stout 2, UW-Stevens Point 1

MENOMONIE (April 29, 2019) – The answer is "Never before the 2019 season." The question, Alex, is "When has UW-Stout baseball swept UW-Stevens Point in a four-game series?"

For the first time ever, UW-Stout swept a four-game series over UW-Stevens Point, completing the four wins Monday with a 4-2, 2-1, sweep at Nelson Field. Stout had won both games Sunday, 12-0, 5-4.
 
Brad Rindfleisch went the distance in game one, striking out six, walking three and scattering seven hits.
 
The Blue Devils (18-15, 12-12 WIAC) scored twice in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI by Joel Thimsen and on Hunter Merrill's fielder's choice. The Pointers tied the score in the fourth inning on a two-run double by Gabe Affeldt. Stout took the lead when Danny Deis reached on an infield error and Kyle Hamilton scored from second. Stout added an insurance run in the eighth inning on Jordan Wilson's RBI double.
 
Wilson was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI as the Pointers outhit Stout, 7-5. Thimsen, Hamilton and Caleb Hurt each had a hit.
 
All of the scoring in game two occurred in the first inning. The Pointers (14-20, 6-14 WIAC) took 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but Stout came back to get all they really would need in the bottom of the inning.
 
Wilson led off with a single, then stole second following a flyout. A wild pitch put Wilson on third. Jack Hemsath drew a walk. Kasey Bass' single brought home Wilson to tie the score and move Hemsath to third. Following another flyout, Alex Jinkins reached on a fielder's choice and Hemsath raced home when the throw to second base was off the mark.
 
Blue Devil reliever Jace Baumann made his first start and went five innings, allowing only the one run, four hits and striking out two to get the win. Cody Urban and Brandon Bohl pitched the middle innings and held the Pointers to two hits. Robert Pilz came on in the ninth inning and earned his first collegiate save. Pilz allowed a two-out walk, but forced a fly out to end the game.
 
The Blue Devils were limited to three hits to the Pointers' six in game two. Wilson, Bass and Reid Akerman each had a hit.
 
The series of four games began with the 2002 season. Previous to that season, the teams played each other in a single doubleheader series for several years. When UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls and UW-Superior field baseball teams in the old WSUC, the conference was divided into Northern and Southern divisions, with Stout playing Eau Claire, River Falls, Superior and La Crosse. The Northern and Southern division champions would meet in a playoff series.
 
The Monday games closed out the regular WIAC schedule and put the Blue Devils into the conversation to earn a tournament berth. The other six WIAC teams will play this weekend. Stout will close out the regular season when they host St. Thomas, Thursday, May 2 at 1 p.m.