LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Edgewood College baseball team didn't come up with a win against 20th-ranked UW-La Crosse, but they may have proved they don't have to take a backseat to anyone in the region. The Eagles nearly rallied for a win in the second game before falling 10-9. UW-La Crosse also won the opener 13-5.
Edgewood College (18-21) continued their recent home run tear hitting four round-trippers in the two games. Zack Creekmore launched his fourth home run of the season in the fourth inning for a 1-0 Edgewood College lead. In the sixth inning, Nick Lehner went deep with Creekmore aboard for a two-run shot; Lehner's second of the season. The Eagles trailed UW-La Crosse 4-3 at that point, but UWL opened up for six runs in the sixth inning to break open the game.
Edgewood College scored again in the seventh inning on an RBI groundout to Zack Creekmore. The RBI was Creekmore's 50th of the season, making him only the fourth player in school history to record 50 RBIs in a season. He needs two more RBIs to break the single season record of 51, held jointly by Pat Kelter (2002) and Andrew Handorf (2006).
Peter Hefty continued his fantastic week with an RBI double in the ninth, but it wasn't nearly enough to come from behind against UW-La Crosse. Creekmore went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a stolen base in the game. Hefty finished 2-for-4 with a double. Pat Manning and Jacob Yellovich also doubled for the Eagles. Jeff Tucker swiped a pair of stolen bases. Bridger Berrett lasted 5.2 innings in taking the loss for the Edgewood College. Berrett allowed five earned runs on 10 hits. AJ Weedon and Callen Gavic finished out the game for the Eagles.
In the second game, Edgewood College gave the ranked home team everything they could handle. Andrew Lauritzen drove in the Eagles' first two runs of the game with a solo home run in the third inning and then an RBI single in the fourth.
Edgewood College still trailed 4-2 entering the fifth. The Eagles scraped together a run when Alex Fowler gave himself up on a stolen base attempt to allow Nick Lehner to score from third. Then with Brodie Engel and Nick Cheaney aboard, Danny Appino crushed his first career home run to right-center field for a sudden 6-4 Edgewood College lead.
UW-La Crosse regained the lead 7-6 in the bottom of the fifth by scoring three runs all after two men were out. UWL extended their advantage to 10-6 with three more in the sixth, but the Eagles weren't done.
Edgewood College picked up two runs in the seventh when Carlos Herrera scored following an error on Brodie Engel's ground ball, and then Appino brought home another run with a fielder's choice. In the ninth, the first two Eagles went down in order, but Hefty started a rally by drawing a two-out walk. Engel followed with an infield single, bringing up Appino again. Appino hit a chopper at the second baseman, that UW-La Crosse threw away allowing Hefty to score, cutting the lead to 10-9, and Engel to reach third base. However, after a walk to Pat Manning to load the bases, Lauritzen flew out to center field to end the game.
Alex Fowler (3-for-4), Creekmore (3-for-5) and Appino (3-for-6) all had three hits in the game. Appino had a career-high four runs batted in to go with his home run. Lauritzen, Engel and Lehner each had two hits including a double for Lehner. The Eagles outhit UW-La Crosse in the game 16-7. With his ninth inning walk, Manning reached base safely for the 30th straight game, moving just one game behind teammate Creekmore for the school record. Creekmore reached base safely in 31 straight game earlier this season. Steve Gavin suffered the loss for the Eagles, allowing eight earned runs on 10 hits. Alex Meister finished up the final 2.1 innings. Edgewood College pitchers walked nine UW-La Crosse batters in the game.
Edgewood College will host the University of Chicago on Monday night in the final home game of the season at 5:00 p.m. The program will honor all who have served with a Veterans Appreciation Day including a special seventh inning stretch.
