VERONA, Wis. – Don't look now, but all the pieces feel like they're coming together for an Edgewood College baseball postseason run. The Eagles swept Marian University in workmanlike fashion on Sunday winning 3-2 and 6-4. With the results of other games in the league, the Eagles now sit alone in second place in the NACC standings.
Edgewood College (13-16, 9-5 NACC) didn't score the first run in either game, but never flinched behind starting pitchers Nate Averill and Andy Swanson. Trailing 1-0 in the opening game, Edgewood College scored twice in the bottom of the third inning to take the lead. Jonathan Roehler singled in Callen Gavic with the tying run, and Tim Nunn put the Eagles ahead with a double down the left field line.
Edgewood College added another run in the sixth when Jacob Yellovich laced a double down the line to bring home Nunn all the way from first base. Marian University (7-24, 0-14 NACC) scored in the seventh to cut the lead to 3-2, but Averill and closer Steve Gavin shut the door on the Sabres. Averill went eight innings, striking out four without a walk. Gavin moved from second base to the pitching mound in the ninth and retired Marian in order for his third save of the season.
Gavic went 2-for-2 and reached base three times to lead the Eagles hitters. Nunn and Yellovich each had a double, while Roehler added a stolen base.
Marian jumped ahead in the second game as well, scoring once in the top of the first inning, but the Eagles responded with their biggest inning of the day. Edgewood College opened the game with four straight singles, the third of which by Nunn, scored both Andrew Lauritzen and Roehler. Nunn eventually scored from third on a throwing error by Marian starting pitcher Austin Hansen for a 3-1 Eagles lead.
However, Marian bounced back with three runs in the second to put the Eagles back on their heels 4-3. Edgewood College's comeback came with single runs in the third, fourth and sixth innings, all of which came after two were out. Danny Appino drove an RBI single to right in the third to tie the game, and Yellovich came through with an RBI single for a 5-4 lead in the fourth. In the sixth Jeff Tucker dropped a triple into the right center field gap to score Nunn with the Eagles' sixth and final run of the game.
After running into trouble in the first two innings, Swanson shifted into cruise control for the next five. He gave up just one hit and two bases on balls after the first two innings. For the game, Swanson allowed three earned runs on seven hits in seven innings to improve his season record to 5-1. Bridger Berrett held the Sabres off the board in the eighth inning, and Gavin came in again to close the ninth earning his second save of the day and fourth of the season.
At the plate, Yellovich spent the day hammering baseballs to all corners of the park. He ended the second game 3-for-5 at the plate, including a double to deep left field. Nunn went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in to extend his hitting streak to nine games and his streak of reaching base safely to 22 games. Lauritzen, Garrett Bogucki and Tucker also had two hits each.
The wins pushed Edgewood College into second place in the standings, one game ahead of both MSOE and Concordia Wisconsin, with six games to play. Concordia Chicago leads the league at 14-2.
Edgewood College will be home for a Wednesday night single game against UW-Platteville. The Eagles will honor all who have served with Veterans Appreciation Night at Stampfl Field. First pitch is at 7:00 p.m.
