UW-Stout 15, UW-Stevens Point 0 (7 innings) |
UW-Whitewater 10, UW-Stout 0 (7 inning)
WHITEWATER (May 21, 2021) - UW-Stout's
Kasey Bass had six RBI, including a three-run home run in the seventh inning of the first game and
Jace Baumann went the distance as the fourth-seeded Blue Devils blanked top-seeded UW-Stevens Point, 15-0, in the WIAC Baseball Championship, presented by Culver's, Friday at UW-Whitewater. But the Blue Devils couldn't keep up the hit parade and were beaten in the second game by host UW-Whitewater, 10-0, in seven innings.
The Blue Devils (23-18) wasted no time getting things started, scoring five runs in the first inning, sending all nine batters to the plate. Bass hit a two-run triple, his first of the season and second of his career, to open the scoring.
Hunter Merrill drove in a run with a single,
Joel Thimsen doubled down the left field line to drive in a run and
Levi Wilson hit a sacrifice fly to fuel the five-run outburst.
Baumann, who had pitched 2.1 innings and earned the save in Wednesday's 2-0 conference first round game, allowed a hit in the bottom of the first, and allowed four total hits in the game, would not allow a runner past second.
Stout jumped out to an 8-0 lead with a three-run second inning as Merrill,
Drew Ries and Thimsen recorded an RBI apiece.
With a 9-0 lead coming into the seventh, Stout put the game out of reach with a six-run seventh inning.
Dan Deis scored two on a double to left center, then scored on
Charlie Szykowny's single up the middle. Deis and Szykowny came home on Bass's home run - his 10th of the season - to center field.
Stout chased the Pointers' (30-10) starter, Casey Pickering after 1.2 innings. Pickering allowed nine hits and eight runs, all earned. Zack Haupt came on in relief and was effective until the sixth inning, allowing a single run in the fourth, an RBI single by Bass, but was charged with all six runs in the seventh.
Baumann was effective throughout the game, surrendering only four hits and struck out three and walked one.
Every Stout batter recorded at least one hit and scored at least one run. Bass was 4 for 6 with three runs scored and six RBI. Szykowny, Merrill, Ries, Thimsen and Deis each had two hits, while
Riley Boushack,
Alex Jinkins, and Wilson had a hit. Merrill and Thimsen had two RBI. Thimsen had two doubles, while Jinkins and Deis each one double.
The win over the Pointers was the Blue Devils' fifth shutout of the season. In looking at seasons since 1987, that number matches 1987 and 1997. The 1990 team recorded seven shutouts. The Blue Devils have also recorded 17 scoreless innings, going back to the final inning of the final game with Finlandia.
In the second game against fifth-ranked Whitewater, the Blue Devils managed only one hit against Warhawks' ace Westin Muir.
Cody Urban got the start and held the Warhawks at bay for two innings, but Whitewater struck in the third inning for four runs on three hits. (The runs ended Stout's scoreless innings allowed at 19 consecutive innings.) The Blue Devils contributed with an error and a run-scoring wild pitch. Whitewater scored a single run in the sixth inning and ended the game with a five run outburst in the seventh inning, including a game-ending two-run home run by Matt Korman.
Whitewater slashed 13 hits, with Nick Santoro leading the way going 3 for 4. Sam Vomhof, Donovan Brandt, Korman and Zach Campbell each had two hits. Stout finished with one hit, that coming by lead-off hitter
Riley Boushack in the first inning with a single to righ field.
The Blue Devils will face UW-Stevens Point, Saturday, May 22, at noon in an elimination game.
