Box Score vs. UW-Platteville, May 4: Watch |
Live Stats | at
UW-Platteville, May 7: Watch |
Game One Live Stats |
Game Two Live Stats |
vs. UW-Platteville, May 8: Live Stats |
UW-Stout Spectator Policy |
WIAC Spring Spectator Policy | UW-Platteville Spectator Policy - no visiting spectators allowed.
THIS WEEK'S GAMES: With eight conference games left to play, UW-Stout (12-16, 8-12 WIAC) and UW-Platteville (14-16, 8-12 WIAC) come into this week's games tied for fifth in the WIAC. The teams will meet in Platteville Friday, May 7, then return to Menomonie to play a non-conference doubleheader, Saturday, May 8 in Wakanda Park in North Menomonie beginning at 1 p.m. Wakanda Park was the Blue Devils' home field for quite some time into the mid-1970s when Nelson Field was completed. The Blue Devils last played in Wakanda Park on April 9, 2001, when they defeated Martin Luther College, 13-0, 10-0, under then-head coach Joe Vavra.
DIRECTIONS TO WAKANDA PARK: From I-94, exit Highway 25 South. Follow 25 South (Broadway St.) to Pine Avenue. Turn left on Pine Avenue. You may use the address for Wakanda Waterpark, to locate the field. The baseball field is directly across from the waterpark. Wakanda Waterpark, 909 Pine Ave, Menomonie, WI 54751
Always check with the home team on their current spectator policy.
LAST TIME THEY MET: UW-Stout exploded out of the gates in the first game of the season, downing UW-Platteville 16-2 in seven innings, but then could have used some of that first game fire power as the Pioneers turned the tables on the Blue Devils with an 11-6 win March 20 at Gus Thompson Field in Waupun in a pair of non-conference games. The Blue Devils jumped all over the Pioneers early, running out to a 7-0 lead with three runs in the first inning and four in the second.
Joel Thimsen played a role in all three of Stout's first inning runs. After
Hunter Merrill led off with a single and a
Kasey Bass walk, Thimsen singled to right field to score Merrill, moved to third and Bass scored on a double play, then scored on an error. Bass drove in a one-out run, Thimsen plated a run on a ground-out and Bass and
Charlie Szykowny scored when
Levi Wilson reached on an error. The Pioneers pulled to within 7-2 in the bottom of the second inning. Szykowny drove in a run in the fourth. Thimsen scored on a wild pitch and moments later Szykowny came home on a wild pitch. Stout put the game away in the seventh inning with six runs. Merrill picked up an RBI and
Paul Weise scored on a wild pitch. Bass and Szykowny each hit two run home runs to pad the lead. Stout's first four batters in the lineup accounted for almost all of the Blue Devils' hits as Merrill, Bass, Thimsen and Szykowny went a combined 12 for 19, drove in nine runs and scored 13 runs. Merrill was 2 for 5, Bass 3 for 4, Thimsen 3 for 5 and Szykowny 4 for 5.
James Palmer worked six innings to get the win, striking out nine while scattering four hits and allowing two earned runs. Palmer walked none.
Alex Foss worked the final inning, allowing one hit. Platteville jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning of game two, but Stout bounced back to score three runs in the second inning. Stout drew four consecutive walks to open the second inning, with
Ryan Herbst drawing a bases loaded free pass to record his first collegiate RBI. Freshman
Riley Boushack smacked out a double to score two. The Pioneers added a run in the fourth inning, then tacked on two more in the sixth. Herbst attracted his second bases loaded walk of the game to score Szykowny. Platteville scored three runs on four hits in the seventh inning. Stout drew their third bases loaded walk of the game in the eighth inning when Wilson walked in a run. Stout scored the final run of the when freshman
Nolan Harke entered as a pinch hitter and stroked a single to left center and would eventually come in on Thimsen's left field single. Both teams ran through their pitching staff. Stout used four pitchers while Platteville used six pitchers. Stout was limited to four hits, but drew 14 walks. Boushack was 2 for 4 to lead Stout. The Pioneers pounded out 14 hits. |
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* / 1 p.m.
Fri, May 7 / at UW-Platteville* / 1 p.m.
Sat, May 8 / UW-Platteville / 1 p.m.
Fri, May 14 / Finlandia University* / 1 p.m.
Sat, May 15 / Finlandia University* / 1 p.m.
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 is only open to the general public from 1 p.m. on Fridays until 9 p.m. on Sundays. 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 .367 (40-109) with 10 doubles, two triples, four home runs and 17 RBI.
Kasey Bass is hitting .363 (33-91) with seven doubles, six home runs with 29 RBI.
Hunter Merrill is hitting .296 (32-108) with eight doubles, eight home runs and 28 RBI. Szykowny has been on base in all 28 games this season, and has successfully reached base in 35 consecutive games, reaching back to the 2019 season. As a team, Stout is third in the league in home runs with 30, led by Merrill (8), Bass (6), Szykowny (4),
Riley Boushack (3) and
Alex Jinkins (2).
Joel Thimsen,
Colin Hageman,
Paul Weise,
Jack Schirpke,
Drew Ries and
Ryan Herbst have each hit a home run this season. Stout has hit more than twice as many home runs as their opponents (14). Boushack may be the most patient Blue Devil of the bunch, second in the league in walks drawn with 24. Jinkins has walked 19 times. |
Statistics
THE LONG BALL: This Blue Devil team has rediscovered the long ball. With at least nine games remaining, Stout has hit 30 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 2006 team hit 31, while the 2005 team hit 32. The school record for team home runs was 56 during the 1983 season. Stout is currently ranked 35th nationally in home runs.
30 OR MORE TEAM HOME RUNS OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS
42 - 1992
39 - 2000
38 - 1998
38 - 1997
36 - 2001
34 - 1995
33 - 1994
32 - 2005
31 - 2006
30 - 2021
30 - 2002
BLUE DEVIL PITCHING: James Palmer (2.68 ERA/48K) and
Cody Urban (6.08/26K) have started seven games, with Jace Bauman (6.38/10) and
Ethan Kjellberg (7.54/7) five starts.
Trevor Miller has two saves, while
Alex Mahaz has one to go with a 2-0 record.
PUNCHOUTS: Palmer is currently 10th on the single season strikeout record with 48 after seven 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, 2019, 59
Matt Doornink, 58, 2009
Matt Doornink, 53, 2008
Ben Sivertson, 53, 2007
Dan Olson, 53, 2007
Matt Lunde, 53, 2002
Russ Morrow, 51, 1992
James Palmer, 48, 2021
UW-STOUT LAST TIME OUT: 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, May 1 at Nelson Field.
Kasey Bass,
Hunter Merrill and
Drew Ries all put the ball in the wetlands on the other side of the outfield fence, helping the Blue Devils a 5-0 lead after the third inning. |
Game Story and Stats
SCOUTING UW-PLATTEVILLE: Jonathan Kelso leads the WIAC in average, hitting .481 (52-108) with 23 RBI, four home runs, three triples and 13 doubles for a slugging percentage of .787 and a healthy OPS of 1.367. Kelso also has 20 stolen bases. Jason Adams is hitting .312 (29-93) and Austin Pullara .304 (21-69). Wyatt Molitor has driven in 20 runs. Shane Nolan (5.63 ERA/31K) and Sam Hernandez (6.27/29) have started seven games. Michael Greco 3.45/29) and Sam Arnold (4.88/27) have started six. |
Baseball Website |
Schedule |
Coaching Staff |
Statistics |
LAST TIME OUT: The Pioneers dropped all four games against UW-Oshkosh last week, losing 11-3, 11-4, in Platteville, April 28, then falling in Oshkosh in seven innings in both contests, 14-4,12-2, May 1. |
April 28 Games and Statistics |
May 1 Games and Statistics
LAST TIME THEY MET: UW-Stout exploded out of the gates in the first game of the season, downing UW-Platteville 16-2 in seven innings, but then could have used some of that first game fire power as the Pioneers turned the tables on the Blue Devils with an 11-6 win March 20 at Gus Thompson Field in Waupun in a pair of non-conference games. The Blue Devils jumped all over the Pioneers early, running out to a 7-0 lead with three runs in the first inning and four in the second.
Joel Thimsen played a role in all three of Stout's first inning runs. After
Hunter Merrill led off with a single and a
Kasey Bass walk, Thimsen singled to right field to score Merrill, moved to third and Bass scored on a double play, then scored on an error. Bass drove in a one-out run, Thimsen plated a run on a ground-out and Bass and
Charlie Szykowny scored when
Levi Wilson reached on an error. The Pioneers pulled to within 7-2 in the bottom of the second inning. Szykowny drove in a run in the fourth. Thimsen scored on a wild pitch and moments later Szykowny came home on a wild pitch. Stout put the game away in the seventh inning with six runs. Merrill picked up an RBI and
Paul Weise scored on a wild pitch. Bass and Szykowny each hit two run home runs to pad the lead. Stout's first four batters in the lineup accounted for almost all of the Blue Devils' hits as Merrill, Bass, Thimsen and Szykowny went a combined 12 for 19, drove in nine runs and scored 13 runs. Merrill was 2 for 5, Bass 3 for 4, Thimsen 3 for 5 and Szykowny 4 for 5.
James Palmer worked six innings to get the win, striking out nine while scattering four hits and allowing two earned runs. Palmer walked none.
Alex Foss worked the final inning, allowing one hit. Platteville jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning of game two, but Stout bounced back to score three runs in the second inning. Stout drew four consecutive walks to open the second inning, with
Ryan Herbst drawing a bases loaded free pass to record his first collegiate RBI. Freshman
Riley Boushack smacked out a double to score two. The Pioneers added a run in the fourth inning, then tacked on two more in the sixth. Herbst attracted his second bases loaded walk of the game to score Szykowny. Platteville scored three runs on four hits in the seventh inning. Stout drew their third bases loaded walk of the game in the eighth inning when Wilson walked in a run. Stout scored the final run of the when freshman
Nolan Harke entered as a pinch hitter and stroked a single to left center and would eventually come in on Thimsen's left field single. Both teams ran through their pitching staff. Stout used four pitchers while Platteville used six pitchers. Stout was limited to four hits, but drew 14 walks. Boushack was 2 for 4 to lead Stout. The Pioneers pounded out 14 hits. |
Game Story and Statistics
TEAM CAPTAINS: Kasey Bass,
Hunter Merrill,
Dan Deis and
Jace Baumann will serve as 2021 team captains.
AWARDS AND HONORS: 2021: 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 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...
2020: Charlie Szykowny earned WIAC player of the week honors after the Blue Devils went 2-1 in their only games of the 2020 season...
2019: Brad Rindfleisch was selected the UW-Stout/Toppers Athlete of the Week, May 6, after posting a win over UW-Stevens Point and one relief inning of scoreless ball with St. Thomas...Casey Ryan was selected the UW-Stout/Toppers Athlete of the Week April 22 after pitching consecutive wins over UW-La Crosse and UW-Oshkosh...
Kasey Bass was selected as the UW-Stout/Toppers Athlete of the Week after hitting .615 over four games against Finlandia University...Jordan Wilson was selected as the WIAC athlete of the week after driving in six runs in a sweep over Principia College...
2018: Jordan Wilson was a first team all-WIAC selection. Brad Rindfleisch,
Kasey Bass, Jon Krueger, and
Ben Vanhove were honorab
le mention selections...Jordan Wilson was the WIAC athlete of the week after his performance against UW-Platteville to close out the season..
.Brad Rindfleisch was selected the UW-Stout/Toppers Pizza Athlete of the Week, April 17, after throwing eight innings and allowing only one run in an eventual 14-inning loss to UW-Stevens Point, April 11.
COACHES: Ben Kincaid (54-88) 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.
2019 BLUE DEVILS: Stout finished the 2019 season at 20-17 overall, 12-12 in the WIAC. | 2019 Statistics
DOWN THE ROAD: The Blue Devils are scheduled to close out regular season play when they host Finlandia University, Friday, May 14 and Saturday, May 15 in the final home games of the year.
