VERONA, Wis. – Edgewood College rallied to erase large deficits in each game of Sunday's home opening doubleheader, to escape with a split against Dominican University. The Eagles rode a dauntless complete game pitching performance from Nate Averill for a 7-6 win in the second game. In the opener, Dominican scored a ninth-inning run to take a 5-4 win from the Eagles.
In the second game, Dominican University (7-11, 1-1 NACC) jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first three innings, but Averill shutout the Stars for the remainder of the game. The Eagles started the comeback with a Nick Lehner sacrifice fly and a Garrett Bogucki RBI single for two runs in the third inning. Edgewood College (5-10, 1-1 NACC) tacked on another run in the fourth when Danny Appino drove home Jacob Yellovich with a two-out single. In the sixth, Andrew Laurtizen crushed an RBI double to center field to score Steve Gavin all the way from first base, and bring the Eagles within 6-4.
The game's biggest moments came in the bottom of the eighth inning. Tim Nunn started the rally with a one-out double down the left field line, and Lauritzen and Lehner followed with walks. Casey Seelow, who had entered the game as a defensive replacement in the top of the eighth, then tied the game by lacing an RBI single to center field. After an intentional walk to Jeff Tucker, Brodie Engel put the Eagles on top with a single through the right side to score pinch-runner Ryan Cassady with the go-ahead run.
Averill did the rest. Despite giving up a one-out single in the ninth, the senior struck out the Stars' Nathaniel Natividad and Joe Kulka to end the game. Averill finished with a complete game, the third of his career, striking out three batters. He threw 138 pitches, of which 91 were for strikes.
Yellovich was the Eagles top hitter, going 3-for-3 at the plate. Appino also had three hits, including a double and an RBI. The Eagles pounded out 18 hits in the game, including doubles from Appino, Lauritzen and Nunn.
The opening game played out in a very similar fashion to the nightcap. Dominican jumped out to a 4-0 lead with five doubles among their first six hits. The Eagles picked up single runs in the fourth and sixth innings on an RBI single from Bogucki and an RBI ground out by Tucker, to bring themselves within 4-2.
The Eagles tied the game in dramatic fashion in the eighth inning, scoring two runs after the first two batters were put out. Bogucki delivered again with an RBI double that scored pinch-runner Bryan Sternig all the way from first base. Then Tucker followed with another double down the left field line to plate Cassady who was running for Bogucki.
However, the Stars posted the winning run in the top of the ninth inning, also after two were out. Mike Piotrowski laced a double off the right centerfield fence to score Lucas McKinney from first base with the eventual winning run.
Lehner went 2-for-3 with a double, while Tucker and Bogucki both went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs batted in. Andy Swanson went seven strong innings on the mound for the Eagles, striking out four Dominican batters and walking just one. Mitch Egan was solid pitching a perfect eighth inning. Erick Wendt suffered the loss in relief, while AJ Verhage came on to record finish the ninth inning.
Edgewood College has a busy week ahead with a rescheduled NACC doubleheader on Monday against Rockford University at Loves Park, Ill. The Eagles will then be on the road again for a Wednesday non-conference single game at UW-Platteville.
