vs. Finlandia University, May 14: Watch |
Live Stats |
vs. Finlandia University, May 15: Watch |
Live Stats |
WIAC Championship
THIS WEEK'S GAMES: This week's games mark the end of the regular season as UW-Stout (17-17, 12-12 WIAC) takes on Finlandia University (0-33, 0-24 WIAC) Friday, May 14 and Saturday, May 15 at Nelson Field at Noon both days. (Note the change in time.) Blue Devil baseball has played the Lions six times in program history and Stout has won all six contests. Finlandia joined the WIAC as an affiliate member starting with the 2019 season.
Stout will play in the first round of the WIAC Championship, presented by Culver's, Wednesday, May 19, but where and against which opponent is yet to be determined. This weekend's games with Finlandia and a four-game series between UW-Oshkosh and UW-La Crosse will have a say in the conference seedings and where Stout will play. Oshkosh (16-10 WIAC) and La Crosse (17-9 WIAC) split games Wednesday, May 12. For Stout (12-12 WIAC), currently fifth in the WIAC standings, to have a chance to move up to the fourth seed, the Blue Devils would have to sweep Finlandia both days and La Crosse would have to sweep Oshkosh Saturday, May 15 to put Stout and Oshkosh in a tie for fourth with a 16-12 conference record. A series of tiebreakers to determine which team would be fourth and which team would be fifth would go into effect. |
Tie-breaker procedures | If Oshkosh would sweep La Crosse, the Titans would be the third seed, La Crosse the fourth seed and Stout the fifth seed. |
2021 WIAC Standings |
SENIOR DAY: The Blue Devils will honor UW-Stout seniors
Kasey Bass,
Dan Deis,
Logan Hile,
Alex Jinkins,
Alex Mahaz,
Hunter Merrill and
James Palmer between games Saturday.
LAST TIME THEY MET: UW-Stout and Finlandia have met six times, and the most recent was Finlandia's first season in the WIAC in 2019 when Stout captured all four games that were played in Sun Prairie. The Blue Devils took wins of 9-0, 6-1, April 6, 2019, and 11-1, 11-1, April 7, 2019. The teams first met April 3, 2010, in Menomonie, with Stout capturing wins of 29-1, 6-5.. | Game Story and Statistics
2021 WIAC SCHEDULE: The schedule for each of the teams in the WIAC in 2021 includes 28 conference games, as well as a "non-conference schedule" consisting of contests against only WIAC schools. The league has been separated into divisions, with Stout, UW-Eau Claire, UW-La Crosse and UW-Platteville in the West Division and UW-Whitewater, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stevens Point and Finlandia in the East Division. The teams will play the schools in the same division in four doubleheaders, with two of the doubleheaders serving as non-conference contests. Two doubleheaders will serve as conference contests. The conference tournament has been expanded to six teams with the No. 3 thru No. 6 seeds participating in "play-in" games at the site of the higher seed on May 19. The winners of the single-elimination contests will join the No. 1 seed and No. 2 seed at the double-elimination finals in Whitewater May 21-22.
2021 UW-Stout Baseball Schedule
Date / Opponent / Time or Result
Sat, Mar. 20 / at UW-Platteville / W 16-2 (7), L 11-6
Thurs, Mar. 25 / at UW-La Crosse / L 11-5, L 6-1
Sat, Mar. 27 / UW-Eau Claire (at River Falls) / W 3-1, W 13-3 (7)
Thur, Apr. 1 / at UW-Stevens Point* / L 12-2 (7), L 5-1
Fri, Apr. 2 / UW-Stevens Point* / L 9-4, W 9-7
Tues, Apr. 6 / at UW-Eau Claire* / W 11-3
Fri, Apr. 9 / UW-Eau Claire* / W 22-3 (7), W 10-3
Sat, Apr. 10 / at UW-Eau Claire* / W 5-4 (10)
Wed, Apr. 14 / at UW-Oshkosh* / W 5-0, L 9-1
Sat, Apr. 17 / UW-Oshkosh* / W 7-4, L 12-9
Tues, Apr. 20 / UW-La Crosse* / L 6-0, L 14-6
Fri, Apr. 23 / at UW-La Crosse* / L 6-5, W 12-6
Sat, Apr. 24 / UW-La Crosse / L 11-9, W 18-8 (7)
Wed, Apr. 28 / at UW-Whitewater* / L 10-1, L 7-0
Sat, May 1 / UW-Whitewater* / L 12-1, L 11-5
Tues, May 4 / UW-Platteville* / W 8-0, W 8-7
Fri, May 7 / at UW-Platteville* / W 5-4, W 5-1
Sat, May 8 / UW-Platteville / W 9-8, L 17-12
Fri, May 14 / Finlandia University* / 12 p.m.
Sat, May 15 / Finlandia University* / 12 p.m.
Wed, May 19 / WIAC Championship First Round / TBA
PARKING: There is no free parking for weekday baseball & softball games. Regular parking restrictions are strictly enforced. Parking for baseball and softball spectators during weekday games is restricted to on-street parking and in Lot 29. Spectators that park in Lot 29 (located just north of the outdoor track) must pay parking fees and register their license plate at the pay station near the main East entrance of the Sports & Fitness Center. Lot 29 parking restrictions end at 4 pm on Monday through Friday.
DO NOT PARK in Lot 4 during the week. Lot 4 is the parking lot located to the west of the Sports & Fitness Center and north of Don & Nona Williams Stadium (the football stadium).
Lot 4 will open to the general public at 1 p.m. Friday until 9 p.m. Sunday. There is no general parking in Lot 4 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays and not until 1 pm on Fridays. Team buses may park on the east side (outdoor track side - not the metered side) of 3rd Street East. Parking is permitted in all university lots on weekends.
BLUE DEVIL OFFENSE: Charlie Szykowny is batting .394 (54-137) with 19 doubles, two triples, four home runs and 24 RBI.
Kasey Bass is hitting .377 (43-114) with 10 doubles, nine home runs with 41 RBI.
Hunter Merrill is hitting .323 (42-130) with 10 doubles, 11 home runs and 38 RBI. Szykowny has been on base in all 34 games this season, and has successfully reached base in 41 consecutive games, reaching back to the 2019 season. As a team, Stout is third in the league in home runs with 37, led by Merrill (11), Bass (9), Szykowny (4),
Riley Boushack (3) and
Alex Jinkins (3).
Joel Thimsen,
Colin Hageman,
Paul Weise, Jack Schripke,
Drew Ries and
Ryan Herbst have each hit a home run this season. Stout has hit almost twice as many home runs as their opponents (17). Boushack may be the most patient Blue Devil of the bunch, second in the league in walks drawn with 27. Jinkins has walked 20 times. |
Statistics
THE LONG BALL: This Blue Devil team has rediscovered the long ball. With at least five games remaining, Stout has hit 37 home runs so far this season, surpassing the most recent home run tally of 29 set in 2014 when Ryan Freitag lifted 15 pitches over the fence. The 2012 Blue Devil team hit 30. Stout has a lot of targets to go after in home runs. The 1997 and 1998 teams hit 38. The 2000 team hit 39 and the 1992 team in 42. The school record for team home runs was 56 during the 1983 season. Stout is currently ranked 20th nationally in home runs.
DOUBLING DOWN: Over six game last week against UW-Platteville,
Charlie Szykowny hit nine doubles, nearly doubling his doubles total to 19, setting a new single season record for doubles. Jack Schneider (2014) held the previous mark of 17 doubles. Jeff Kloes (1987), Mike Jaje (1995) and Seth Meier (2005) shared the record for several years with 16.
Kasey Bass hit 15 in 2019. Bass and
Hunter Merrill currently have 10 doubles.
WIAC STATS: The Blue Devils have several players in the top 10 in individual statistical categories.
Charlie Szykowny is fourth in hits (54), second in runs scored (45), first in doubles (19), ninth in stolen bases (10), fifth in total bases (89), seventh in walks (19), seventh in on-base percentage (.482), and ninth in slugging percentage (.650).
Kasey Bass is third in home runs (9), sixth in RBI (41), ninth in total bases (85), ninth in on-base percentage (.459) and third in slugging percentage (.702).
Hunter Merrill is second in home runs (11), eighth in RBI (38), seventh in total bases (85) and eighth in slugging percentage (.654). On the mound, Palmer is first in innings pitched (56.0), third in wins (5), third in strikeouts (57), tied for first in shutouts (2), tied for first in complete games (2), and fourth in opponent batting average (.175)
30 OR MORE TEAM HOME RUNS OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS
42 - 1992
39 - 2000
38 - 1998
38 - 1997
37 - 2021
36 - 2001
34 - 1995
33 - 1994
32 - 2005
31 - 2006
30 - 2002
BLUE DEVIL PITCHING: James Palmer (2.25 ERA/57K) and
Cody Urban (5.94/28) have started eight games, with Jace Bauman (5.33/16) making six starts and
Ethan Kjellberg (6.93/9) five starts.
Brock Burg (5.11/22) has made four starts.
Trevor Miller abd
Alex Mahaz each have two saves. Palmer pitched a no-hitter May 4 against UW-Platteville.
PUNCHOUTS: Palmer is currently fifth on the single season strikeout record with 57 after eight games. The school record of 75 is held by Ron Yessa in 1997. Brad Rindfleisch had 59 strikeouts in 2019.
SINGLE SEASON STRIKEOUTS
Ron Yessa, 75, 1997
Adam Rothenbuehler, 65, 2002
Brad Rindfleisch, 59, 2019
Matt Doornink, 58, 2009
James Palmer, 57, 2021
Matt Doornink, 53, 2008
Ben Sivertson, 53, 2007
Dan Olson, 53, 2007
Matt Lunde, 53, 2002
Russ Morrow, 51, 1992
UW-STOUT NO-HITTERS
James Palmer, May 4, 2021, W 8-0 vs. UW-Platteville at Nelson Field (9 innings)
Russ Jiskra, Nate Hanson, Ethan Smallbrook, Dave Oestrich, March 4, 2009, W 2-0 vs. Minn-Crookston, HHH Metrodome (7 innings)
Brett Blair, March 19, 1997, W 2-0 vs. Illinois College, Ft. Myers, Fla. (7 innings)
Mike Charbonneau, April 15, 1987, W 10-0 vs. UW-Superior (7 innings)
Larry Kreyling, May 1, 1965, W 3-0 vs. Superior State (7 innings)
***While not officially a no-hitter, Brad Rindfleisch pitched nine no-hit innings inside a 17-inning game against UW-La Crosse at Nelson Field, May 8, 2018. Rindfleisch entered the game in the sixth inning and exited after the 14th inning, facing 28 batters, one above the minimum, walking one and fanning three. The Blue Devils lost, 3-2, and Rindfleisch did not figure into the decision.
UW-STOUT LAST TIME OUT: The Blue Devils went 5-1 with UW-Platteville last week, winning all four conference games (8-0, 8-7, 5-4, 5-1) and splitting the final non-conference series (9-8, L 17-12). The week was highlighted by
James Palmer's no-hitter in the first game of the series. The no-hitter was Palmer's first collegiate no-hitter, to go with a no-hitter he threw during his senior year in high school. |
Games One & Two Story and Stats |
Games Three & Four Story and Stats |
Games Five & Six Story and Stats
SCOUTING FINLANDIA UNIVERSITY: The Lions have sent 25 batters to the plate this year. Finlandia is led by Joe Galindo who is hitting .299 (26-87) with six doubles, four home runs and 13 RBI. Jacob Mead has seven home runs and a team best 15 RBI. Thomas Bruns leads the pitching staff with 25 strikeouts over sevens starts and two complete games. Eastyn Culp has 20 strikeouts and Tyler Hale has 16 strikeouts in seven starts and 11 appearances. Alex Tallman has made 11 appearances, all in relief. |
Baseball Website |
Schedule |
Coaching Staff |
Statistics |
LAST TIME OUT: Finlandia University baseball team lost 18-2 to eighth ranked UW-Whitewater, Sunday in Whitewater. In the first inning, freshman Gideon Scott singled and freshman Jacob Godoshian was hit by a pitch. UW-Whitewater got the next three batters out and scored a run in the bottom half. In the second inning, freshman Gabe Voisin was hit by a pitch, senior Sheridan Brady drew a walk and Scott singled to load the bases. Godoshian singled to score Voison and tie the game. The Warhawks scored five runs in the bottom of the second to turn the tide. For Finlandia, Godoshian and Scott had two hits each. Sophomore Brandon Hale gave up 11 hits, eight runs with seven earned, walked one and struck out one in 3.1 innings. For UW-Whitewater, Kade Lancour gave up four hits, two runs with one earned, walked one and struck out 10 in five innings. The Lions lost to the Warhawks, 19-0, 14-0, May 7, and 12-0, 10-4, May 8. |
Game Story and Stats
LAST TIME THEY MET: UW-Stout needed only 14 total innings to complete a four-game conference sweep over Finlandia University, April 7, 2019, winning both games Sunday at Summit Field by identical seven-inning 11-1 scores. The Blue Devils had swept the Lions, 9-0, 6-1, the day before. Over the weekend in four games, 11 Stout pitchers ganged up on Finlandia and executed 42 total strikeouts. The Blue Devils (10-5, 5-3 WIAC) allowed only three runs over the four games, outscoring the Lions, 37-3, and out-hitting Finlandia 44-21. The Blue Devils recorded seven total doubles and two home and allowed no Finlandia extra-base hits. Stout pitchers gave up eight walks and two hit batters. As a team, Stout hit .352 and held Finlandia to .186. In the field, Stout committed only two errors in 129 chances for a fielding percentage of .984. |
Game Story and Statistics
TEAM CAPTAINS: Kasey Bass,
Hunter Merrill,
Dan Deis and
Jace Baumann will serve as 2021 Blue Devil team captains.
AWARDS AND HONORS: 2021: James Palmer was named the WIAC/Kwik Trip pitcher of the week and the NCBWA pitcher of the week after pitching a no-hitter May 4 against UW-Platteville...
Charlie Szykowny was selected as the WIAC/Kwik Trip position player of the week after batting .500 and hitting nine doubles in six games with UW-Platteville, May 4-9...
Kasey Bass hit a bases loaded double to drive in three runs to lift UW-Stout to a 9-7 win in the second game of a doubleheader with UW-Stevens Point April 2 and was selected The Heights/UW-Stout Athlete of the Week...
James Palmer earned WIAC/Kwik Trip player of the week and The Heights/UW-Stout Athlete of the Week honors after recording nine strikeouts in a season-opening 16-2 win over UW-Platteville.
COACHES: Ben Kincaid (59-89) is in his fifth year as the Blue Devils' head coach with the 2021 season, following two years as a Blue Devil assistant coach where he worked primarily with the pitchers. Kincaid played collegiately at at Minnesota State University-Mankato, where he was a four year letter winner, playing in 149 games. He finished with a .339 batting average, 38 doubles (5th on MSU's career list), six home runs and 140 runs batted in (6th on MSU's career list). As a right-handed pitcher he sported a 14-8 record with a 3.45 earned run average and had 148 strikeouts in 172 innings pitched. Kincaid was named to the All-Central Region team three times in his career. An Eau Claire native, Kincaid played for the local Eau Claire Express.
DOWN THE ROAD: The Blue Devils will play in the first round of the WIAC Championship, Wednesday, May 19. The final rounds of the tournament are Friday, May 21 and Saturday, May 22.
WIAC TOURNAMENT: The Blue Devils competed in the 2019 tournament, but before that last competed in the conference championship (2014), they were also the fourth seed and played top-seeded UW-Whitewater in Whitewater, losing 15-14 in 10 innings. Stout was eliminated from the tournament in the next game, 13-3, by UW-Stevens Point. Stout also played in the championship in 2007 and 1999. The Blue Devils knocked off top-seeded UW-Oshkosh in the 2007 tournament, their only tournament win. Stout lost to UW-Stevens Point in the second round game and were eliminated by UW-Oshkosh. In 1999, the Blue Devils lost to UW-Oshkosh in a single elimination tournament. Stout is 1-5 in the tournament. The WIAC Championship first began in 1998 in the current format. The 2018 WIAC Championship was canceled midway through the season when it was apparent inclement weather would not allow completion of the regular season schedule in time for the tournament to be held. The 2020 WIAC Championship was effectively canceled when the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
UW-Stout in the WIAC Championship Tournament
2019 - vs. UW-Whitewater, L 6-1; vs. UW-Platteville, L 5-2
2014 - vs. UW-Whitewater, L 15-14 (10 innings); vs. UW-Stevens Point, L 13-3
2007 - vs. UW-Oshkosh, W 9-7 (10 innings); vs. UW-Stevens Point, L 7-5; vs. UW-Oshkosh, L 11-2
1999 - vs. UW-Oshkosh, L 10-1
