Eagles come back in both games to take sweep over Blue Devils

UW-La Crosse 11, UW-Stout 5 | UW-La Crosse 6, UW-Stout 1

LA CROSSE (March 24, 2021) - UW-Stout took the early lead in both games of a non-conference doubleheader, but UW-La Crosse came back to take both wins 11-5, 6-1, Thursday, at Copeland Park.

In the opener, UW-Stout scored four runs in the top of the first inning and held the Eagles (4-0) at bay until the home team launched 10 unanswered runs over three innings, starting with a five-run barrage in the third inning, followed by four in the fourth and a single run in the fifth. La Crosse made it 11-4 with a run in the seventh that the Blue Devils got back with a single run in the ninth on Riley Boushack's third RBI of the game.

In the first inning, Alex Jinkins led off with a walk, then moved to third on Hunter Merrill's double to right center. Boushack plated both runners with a single through the right side. Charlie Szykowny moved Boushack to second with a single, then Boushack came home on Nolan Harke's single, putting Szykowny at third, who would eventually come home on a wild pitch.

Ethan Kjellberg stranded three runners over the first two innings before he got in trouble in the third inning, giving up five earned runs. The Eagles finished the game with 18 hits off three Stout pitchers, while Stout finished with eight hits. Merrill, Boushack and Szykowny each finished with two hits apiece.

Stout opened the scoring in the second game as well, taking a 1-0 lead in the third inning when the Blue Devils took advantage of a couple of Eagle mistakes. After Merrill reached on a walk, Joel Thimsen reached on an infield error, pushing Merrill to second. A balk advanced both runners and Merrill scored on Szykowny's ground out. 

The Eagles scored three runs in the fourth and added two more runs in the sixth inning. Back-to-back wild pitches gave La Crosse a run in the eighth. 

Brock Burg went 6.0 innings to take the loss, scattering six hits, five runs, four earned and recorded two strikeouts. Boushack was 2 for 4 in the second game to finish 4 for 7 on the day.

The Blue Devils will host UW-Eau Claire, Saturday, March 27, at the First National Bank of River Falls Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.