VERONA, Wis. (Apr. 23, 2008) - Edgewood College has been searching for a complete doubleheader most of the season, and if they didn't find it Wednesday night at Stampfl Field, they came pretty close. Edgewood College pounded out 31 hits, committed just two errors and Edgewood College pitchers combined for 18 strikeouts in a sweep of Marian College by scores of 10-3 and 9-4.
In game one, Edgewood College (17-11, 9-3 NAC) opened up a 4-0 lead through five innings, with a Ricky Martinez two-run double sandwiched between RBI singles by Ryan Siebert and Alex Berta. Marian responded with two runs in the top of the sixth, but Justin Dahmen laced a single up the middle driving home two runs and giving the Eagles a 6-2 lead. The Eagles scored four more times in the eighth inning highlighted by Matt Shilney's double down the left field line, scoring Dan Gugel and Cory McCullick. Siebert went three-for-four with two runs batted in.
Bill Dictus (1-2) made his first start since March 20, going eight innings and striking out eight Sabre batters. Dictus earned his first win of the season, having made most of his appearances in relief. The Eagles defeated Marian's staff ace Nick Raddant, handing Raddant his first loss in seven decisions this season.
The second game began like the first, with the Eagles scoring four times in the first four innings. McCullick drove home two runs in the second inning with a double. Marian College (13-15, 9-7 NAC) rose up in the fourth inning, with four runs on five singles and a double. Edgewood College had a golden opportunity to re-take the lead in the sixth inning, when they loaded the bases with two outs, but Marian starter Eric Dayton coaxed McCullick into an inning-ending ground ball. The Eagles took the lead for good in the seventh inning. Siebert scored Dahmen from third with a sacrifice fly and Matt Werner singled home Shilney to give the Eagles a 6-4 lead. Edgewood College tacked on three insurance runs in the eighth inning. Berta had four hits in five at-bats, as every spot in the batting order picked up at least one hit.
Rick Walsh (3-3) entered the game in the seventh inning and got the Eagles out of jam with two runners on base by getting Peter Reschke to fly out to center field. Walsh picked up the win, allowing one hit and striking out three batters in the final two and one-third innings. Nathan Marlowe started and went four and two-thirds innings, striking out three. Kyle Smith made his first collegiate appearance, striking out Reschke with the bases loaded in the fifth inning.
Edgewood College has a pair of big doubleheaders coming up this weekend, when they travel to Concordia University Chicago on Saturday and host Rockford College on Sunday. The Rockford games mark the first of nine straight home games in the last week of the regular season for the Eagles.
