VERONA, Wis. (May 3, 2008) – The weekend challenge was a tall order. Edgewood College had to win four times or miss the Northern Athletics Conference Tournament. Unfortunately for the Eagles, Lakeland College put together a four-run ninth inning rally is game one of Saturday's doubleheader and effectively ended the Eagles' playoff hopes 8-7. Edgewood College rebounded for a 4-1 victory in the second game.
In the seventh inning of the first game it looked as if the Eagles would survive for at least one more game. Senior Ryan Siebert crushed a two-run home run over the right field fence to break a 4-4 and give the Eagles a 6-4 lead. Edgewood College (20-16, 12-8 NAC) held on until the ninth inning, when Jacob Heinemeyer hit an RBI double to trim the lead to 6-5. Dave Novak immediately followed with a double of his own to score Heinemeyer and tie the game. Then Dave's brother Doug Novak, crushed the next pitch over the right-center field fence and the Muskies had taken an 8-6 lead over the stunned Eagles.
Ricky Martinez gave the Eagles a glimmer of hope with a two-out solo home run to right trimming the Muskies' lead to one, but winning pitcher Alex Ackerman struck out Alex Berta to end the game. Siebert had a big day on Senior Day, going two-for-five and driving in four runs. Martinez was also two-for-five. Bill Dictus (1-4) picked up the loss in relief giving up four runs and striking out two. Starter Cody Flynn went seven innings, giving up four runs and striking out eight.
Cory McCullick ignited the Eagles early in the second game. McCullick reached base in his first three trips to the plate with a pair of doubles and a walk, and scored each time. Matt Shilney drove McCullick in twice, once with an RBI groundout and once with a single. Justin Dahmen went two-for-four with a pair of bunt singles.
Nathan Marlowe (3-4) handcuffed Lakeland College (9-27, 6-16 NAC) throughout the game, allowing just one earned run, while striking out six in eight innings. Dictus struck out two batters in the ninth to record the 100th strikeout of his career and earn his second save of the season.
The loss to Lakeland College coupled with wins by Benedictine and Marian eliminates the Eagles from contention for the NAC Baseball Tournament. Edgewood College will finish their season with three games, a doubleheader tomorrow against Benedictine and a non-conference game against 21st-ranked UW-Stevens Point on Tuesday night.
Between games of the doubleheader, Edgewood College took a moment to honor their five senior student-athletes, Bill Dictus, Cody Flynn, Karl Reynolds, Tim Richardson and Ryan Siebert. The five seniors have combine to win 103 games in four years, becoming the winningest class in program history. The Eagles also clinched their fifth straight 20-win season.
