VERONA, Wis. – Jonathan Roehler drove in three runs and four Eagle pitchers limited UW-Platteville to five hits, as the Edgewood College baseball team claimed a 4-2 victory on Veterans Appreciation Night. The win marked the second straight season the Eagles have defeated the Pioneers at Stampfl Field.
UW-Platteville (17-15) scored a run without the benefit of a base hit in the first inning, but the Eagles immediately answered to tie the game. Alex Fowler walked to lead off the inning, and moved to second on Danny Appino's sacrifice. Then Roehler battled through a 10-pitch at bat to lace a single into right field, scoring Fowler.
When the Pioneers took a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning, Edgewood College (18-13) responded immediately again. With runners on first and second and two out, Roehler ripped a shot into the right field corner. Callen Gavic scored from second, and Fowler came all the way around from first. Roehler was thrown out trying to stretch his double into a triple, but the damage had already been done. The Eagles led 3-2.
Nick Lehner provided a much needed insurance run with a long double to straightaway center field that scored Appino in the bottom of the eighth.
Adam Eck started on the mound, and after some first inning trouble, struck out five batters in three innings pitched. Mitch Egan and Alex Meister filled the middle innings, with Egan becoming the pitcher of record when the Eagles took the lead. Steve Gavin recorded a three-inning save, striking out five batters and not allowing a run.
Roehler was the only Eagle with multiple hits going 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and three runs batted in. Lehner provided the other RBI with his double in the eighth. Fowler reached base three times with a single and a pair of walks.
Edgewood College will jump right back into the thick of the NACC postseason race this weekend. The Eagles, currently in sixth place, will travel to play a doubleheader at Wisconsin Lutheran College on Saturday, before returning home on for two games against Aurora on Sunday. Sunday is also Breast Cancer Recovery Day, an annual fundraising event to support BCR in their work with women and families afflicted by breast cancer.
