FOND DU LAC, Wis. – It was a weird day of baseball at Herr-Baker Field. Both Edgewood College and Marian University staged come-from-behind victories after trailing by six or more runs to split an NACC doubleheader. Marian University posted an 8-run and a 10-run inning in a 20-9 victory in the opener. The Eagles bounced back from a 7-0 deficit to win 8-7 in the day's second game.
Everything was looking up for Edgewood College (7-10, 4-2 NACC) in the first game. The Eagles scored in each of the first three innings to take a 6-0 lead. Brad Clark provided the biggest shot with his second career home run, a two-run blast in the third inning that scored Nick Lehner. The Sabres committed six errors in the first three innings leading to three unearned runs for the Eagles.
However, it all fell apart in the bottom of the third inning. Marian University (6-11, 4-2 NACC) pounded out nine hits and eight runs to grad the lead. It only got worse in the fourth inning, when three Edgewood College errors opened the door to a 10-run inning giving the Sabres an 18-6 lead.
Clark led the Eagles with two hits, including his home run, and three runs batted in. Garrett Bogucki had a single and a double, while Danny Appino also had two hits. Erick Wendt suffered his first loss of the season, allowing eight runs on eight hits.
In the second game, Marian University burst from the gate with six runs on five hits in the first inning, and added another run in the second for a 7-0 lead. Edgewood College's bats were held completely silent for the first four innings as the Sabres starting pitcher Tanner Biwer set down the first 12 Eagles he faced.
The Eagles finally broke through in the fifth inning. Zack Creekmore led off with a double and scored an an RBI single by Clark. Two batters later, Brodie Engel drove in Bogucki. Edgewood College tallied another run in the sixth when Creekmore's sacrifice fly scored Andrew Lauritzen from third base.
Finally, in the seventh inning, the Eagles gained the lead. After Clark and Peter Hefty reached on Sabre fielding errors with one out, Engel, Pat Manning, Lauritzen and Creekmore all stroked EBI singles. Lehner plated the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly to score Manning.
Starting pitcher Nate Averill weathered the early storm and lasted five innings, before yielding to eventual winner Steve Gavin. Gavin didn't allow a hit in three innings. AJ Verhage came on in the ninth to earn his fourth save of the season.
Creekmore, Lauritzen and Engel had two hits apiece. Lauritzen and Creekmore each had a double, and Creekmore and Engel had two runs batted in apiece.
The Eagles next game will be mid-week, non-conference road game at the University of Chicago on Wednesday. Edgewood College returns home next Saturday for a doubleheader against Concordia University Chicago.
