Blue Devils play some long ball, but still swept by eighth ranked Warhawks

UW-Whitewater 12, UW-Stout 1 | UW-Whitewater 11, UW-Stout 5

MENOMONIE (May 1, 2021) - After dropping a seven-inning, 12-1, opening decision to UW-Whitewater at Nelson Field, the UW-Stout baseball showed some muscle in the second game, but ultimately the eight-ranked Warhawks claimed the day with an 11-5 second game win.

Kasey Bass, Hunter Merril and Drew Ries all put the ball in the wetlands on the other side of the outfield fence, helping the Blue Devils (12-16, 8-12 WIAC) to a 5-0 lead after the third inning.

Bass smashed a two-run shot in the bottom of the first after Charlie Szykowny doubled and Ries homered to right field after Alex Jinkins opened the third with a deep double to center field. Merrill followed up with a solo shot to left field and Stout led 5-0. A change in pitchers kept Stout scoreless the rest of the way, but the Warhawks came to life, scoring two runs in the fourth, four in the fifth and five in the seventh.

Whitewater finished the game with 13 hits, with 11 coming after the third inning. Stout finished with seven hits, with only two coming after the third inning. Szykowny and Bass each had two hits. The Warhawks got two hits each from Sam Vornhoff, Tucker Criswell, Matt Korman, Ben Wilikins and Ryan Norton.

In the opener, Cody Urban was cruising along on the hill, facing only the minimum through the first three innings. But Urban gave up a lead-off walk in the fourth and the Warhawks made the Blue Devils pay, scoring eight runs off eight hits in the inning . The Warhawks added three more in the fifth and one more in the sixth. Stout did get a consolation run in the bottom of the seventh when Reece Vold scored on a wild pitch. 

The Blue Devil have eight hits with Jinkins recording two hits. Vornhof had three hits as eight Warhawks had at least one hit and finished with 12 hits. 

Szykowny stretched his on-base streak to 35 games, getting on base with a walk in the first game and getting two hits in the second game.

The Blue Devils are scheduled to play UW-Platteville in three doubleheaders next week. The teams are scheduled to play conference games when the Pioneers will visit Menomonie Tuesday, May 4 at 1 p.m. and the Blue Devils will travel to Platteville, Friday, May 7. The teams will meet in a non-conference doubleheader Saturday, May 8 at Wakanda Park in North Menomonie. Wakanda Park was the Blue Devils' home until Nelson Field was built in the mid-1970s. Stout last played at Wakanda Park in the 2001 season when Nelson Field was not ready for play in early April.