VERONA, Wis. (May 4, 2008) - Playing spoiler isn't as much fun as playing contender, but since spoiler is all the Edgewood College baseball team had, they did their best to make it hard on Benedictine University in their effort to clinch the NAC regular season crown. Edgewood College made Benedictine sweat it out until the final game of the conference schedule, winning game one 17-3, before falling 14-4 in the second game.
Edgewood College (21-17, 13-9 NAC) jumped on Benedictine starter James Callahan early, scoring runs in the first four innings. Matt Werner did the major damage, crushing a grand slam home run in the bottom of the second inning to give Edgewood College an 8-1 lead. The margin would grow to 13-1 in the fourth when Cory McCullick connected for a three-run home run. McCullick had a monster game going three-for-four with three runs scored and matched his career-high with six runs batted in. McCullick also stole his 22nd base of the season. Justin Dahmen went two-for-five with a double and drove in three runs.
Matt Krueger (5-0) improved his unblemished record and recorded his fourth complete game of the season. Krueger struck out four batters and gave up two earned runs in seven innings pitched. Edgewood College benefitted from eight Benedictine errors, which led to seven unearned Edgewood College runs.
Game two belonged to the Eagles of Benedictine University (25-15, 17-5 NAC) as they scored in the first four innings to roll out to an 11-0 lead. McCullick provided a bright spot in the fifth inning, connecting on his second home run of the day to trim the Benedictine lead to 11-3. Alex Berta went two-for-two with two runs batted in.
Starter Kyle Lode (3-2) took the loss, surrendering seven earned runs in just two innings pitched. With the win, Benedictine University clinched a share of the Northern Athletics Conference championship and the top seed in the NAC Baseball Tournament which begins next Friday at Road Ranger Stadium in Rockford.
Edgewood College will conclude the 2008 season with a non-conference game against 21st-ranked UW-Stevens Point on Tuesday night at Stampfl Field. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m.
