VERONA, Wis. – The Edgewood College baseball team did everything they could do to reach the NACC Tournament on LSM Chiropractic Senior Day, defeating regionally ranked Concordia University Wisconsin 10-6 and 3-0. However, the Eagles didn't get the help they needed from the other teams in the standings, bringing their season to a close at 21-17. Adam Eck was outstanding in the second game, pitching a complete game shutout.
After the Eagles had wrapped up their sweep of the Falcons, all eyes turned toward the Dominican at Marian game which was tied 4-4 in the eighth inning. A Marian win would put Edgewood College into the NACC Tournament, while a Dominican win would keep them out. After wrapping up Senior Day ceremonies the team watched and waited while the Sabres and Stars battled into extra innings. Finally, Dominican broke through with a run in the 16th inning, ending the Eagles' season.
In game one, Edgewood College (21-17, 9-11 NACC) sent out senior Blake Bieri and the Eagles offense supported him with single runs in the second through sixth innings. Senior Tim Nunn scored the first run of the game and then added an RBI single in the third inning. Senior Brodie Engel plated Jeff Tucker with a groundout in the fourth and Tucker brought home Nunn with a run scoring single in the fifth. In the sixth, Jonathan Roehler nearly drove in two with a smash to center field, but a brilliant diving catch by CUW's Matt Luft turned it into a sacrifice fly and a 5-2 Eagles lead.
Concordia University Wisconsin (26-11, 15-5 NACC) finally solved Bieri in the seventh inning. The Falcons scored four runs to take a 6-5 lead, with Steve Gavin entering to finish the inning. However, the Eagles had a rally ready to go. After a pair of walks and a Tucker bunt single loaded the bases, pinch hitter Nik Visone laid down a squeeze bunt to score Nunn from third. Wild pitches brought home Garrett Bogucki and Tucker to put the Eagles back in front 8-6. Then senior Danny Appino slapped a single through the right side and Roehler added another sacrifice fly for a 10-6 lead. Gavin would overcome a couple of hit batters to close out the game and earn the win.
Bieri went 6.1 innings and struck out three batters to finish his career with 99 strikeouts. Gavin had two strikeouts in 2.2 innings of work. At the plate Nunn when 3-for-4 with three runs scored, while Tucker was 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Roehler finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and his league leading 19th stolen base of the season. All 14 of Edgewood College's hits were singles.
In game two, the Eagles scored three runs, but Eck made sure that would be more than enough to win. Eck scattered seven hits and struck out five batters for his first career complete game shutout. The Eagles biggest jam came in the eighth inning when the Falcons loaded the bases with one out. But Eck induced a double play ground ball from CUW's Bryan Thomas to escape.
Edgewood College took the lead in the fifth inning on Callen Gavic's RBI double which scored Tucker from second. The Eagles added another in the sixth inning when Roehler led off with a double and scored two batters later on Bogucki's double. In the eighth, senior Nick Lehner made sure no one would soon forget the last at bat of his career, with a booming home run over the trees in right field for a 3-0 Eagles lead.
Out of the Eagles seven hits, Nunn, Roehler and Bogucki each had doubles to go with Lehner's seventh home run of the season and 11th of his career.
Edgewood College's 21-17 record is their best mark since the 2010 team that won the NACC championship. It's the Eagles first winning overall record since 2010 as well. The games saw seven seniors, Danny Appino, Blake Bieri, Mitch Egan, Brodie Engel, Nick Lehner, Tim Nunn and Jonathan Roehler, make their final appearance at Stampfl Field.
