UW-Stout 7, Finlandia University 0 |
UW-Stout 6, Finlandia University 2
MENOMONIE (May 6, 2022) - UW-Stout needed only three pitchers Friday as the Blue Devils swept Finlandia University, 7-0, 6-2, on Senior Day at Nelson Field.
Senior
Jace Baumann tossed a one-hitter in going the distance in the first game and junior
Ethan Kjellberg struck out 11 to take the second game.
Tim Kohls came on in game two to work the final inning, closing the game out on a double play.
Senior third baseman
Joel Thimsen had a big day at the plate, going a combined 4 for 9 for the with three doubles and two RBI.
Baumann threw a gem on Senior Day, allowing only one hit and that hit didn't come until the sixth inning as the Blue Devil (19-19, 12-14 WIAC) offense gave the senior pitcher more than enough to close out his career with a win.
Baumann faced 31 batters over nine innings and fanned a career-best nine batters, his best since 2018 when he whiffed eight against Principia in relief. Baumann allowed only four batters on base, and only two runners got as far as second base. The game was Baumann's first complete game of the season and the third of his career.
While Baumann was working nearly flawlessly, the Blue Devils offense cracked out seven hits against three different pitchers. But it wasn't until the third inning that Stout got on the board with a three-spot.
Paul Weise
The Blue Devils'
Jacoby Endreas and
Charlie Szykowny were both hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and
Joel Thimsen made Finlandia pay, driving in both players with a double to center field.
Jack Schirpke drew a walk and Thimsen and Schirpke executed the double steal.
Levi Wilson walked to load the bases. A pop fly gave Stout their first out of the inning before
Paul Weise registered a sacrifice fly to center to score Thimsen and the Blue Devils led 3-0.
Stout took control in the seventh inning with four runs. Thimsen led off with a single and Schirpke reached on an error. Wilson plated Thimsen with a single down the right field line and Schirpke advanced to third. Schirpke and Wilson executed the double steal with Schirpke taking home.
Colin Hageman walked and Stout pulled off their second double steal of the inning with Wilson and Hageman recorded their thievery. Following an out,
Reese Vold drove in both runners with an RBI single for the final 7-0 score.
Endreas was 2 for 3 and Thimsen was 2 for 5 with two runs scored and two RBI.
In game two, Kjellberg went eight innings and collected his career-best 11 strikeouts. Kjellberg had at least one strikeout in every inning but one, struck out all three batters in the third and three times put Finlandia (3-33, 0-26 WIAC) down in order.
The Blue Devils scored in the first three innings of the game, getting on the board in the first when
Charlie Szykowny plated Boushack. In the second inning,
TJ Carlson moved
Colin Hageman, who drew a lead-off walk, to third and Hageman came home on
Reese Vold's sacrifice fly. Stout took a 4-0 lead with a two-run third inning. The Blue Devils loaded the bases and Hageman drew a walk. Moments later, senior
Paul Weise hit a sacrifice fly to right field.
Finlandia scored their first run of the day in the fourth to cut the lead to 4-1 on Jacob Godoshian's RBI double to left center.
Weise took that run back for Stout with the second home run of his collegiate career, a smash to right field that just stayed fair. Weise completed his three home run game when he scored Thimsen from third base when he beat out an infield single to make it 6-1. Finlandia's Brandon Gaskin doubled down the left field line for the final run of the game in the eighth inning.
Boushack was 2 for 5, Thimsen was 2 for 4 with two runs scored and two doubles. Weise was 2 for 3 with three RBI.
The teams will close out the regular season Saturday, May 7, when they meet at Wakanda Park in North Menomonie. First pitch is scheduled for noon for the doubleheader.
