VERONA, Wis. – The role of contender is always preferable to spoiler, but on Sunday the Edgewood College baseball relished the opportunity to try and deny Concordia University Wisconsin a NACC Tournament spot. However, the Falcons shutout the Eagles 7-0 in the opener and then came from behind for a 5-4 win in the nightcap to complete the sweep and reach the postseason. Edgewood College also celebrated Senior Day for their 13 graduating players.
There wasn't a much to write home about for Edgewood College (8-28, 5-15 NACC) in the opener, as CUW's Matthew Olig pitched eight innings of shutout baseball. The Eagles had their best chance to score in the sixth inning when singles by Garrett Bogucki and Nick Cheaney, plus a hit by pitch for Jeff Tucker loaded the bases with two outs. But Olig coaxed an inning ending ground ball to escape the threat.
Bogucki went 2-for-4 in the game with a double, while Cheaney, Bryan Sternig and Callen Gavic also had two hits apiece. Alex Fowler's school record streak of reaching base safely came to an end at 34 consecutive games. Adam Eck threw a complete game in his final appearance at Stampfl Field, striking out 11 batters and allowing just three earned runs.
In the second game, the Eagles jumped ahead first on three straight hits to open the game: a double by Sternig, a bunt single by Visone and a RBI single by Fowler. Sternig had his fingerprints on two runs in the second inning as well, with an RBI single and eventually scoring on a wild pitch for a 3-1 Eagles lead.
After Concordia University Wisconsin (22-16, 11-9 NACC) cut the lead to 3-2, the Eagles put another run on the board in the fifth. Ryan Fields score all the way from first when the Falcons threw away Jeff Tucker's bunt single for a 4-2 lead. However, the Falcons scored runs in the sixth and seventh to take the lead for good.
Sternig was 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Fowler was also 2-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base. Fields and Tucker were both 2-for-4 on the game. Steve Gavin returned to the mound on two days of rest and threw seven solid innings, striking out eight batters and giving up five earned runs. Alex Meister held the Falcons scoreless over the last two innings in his final home appearance.
The game marked the final Stampfl Field contest for 13 seniors: Bogucki, Cheaney, Eck, Fowler, Gavic, Gavin, Ryan Howell, Meister, Peter Perales, Tucker, Visone, AJ Weedon and Erick Wendt. Edgewood College will close the season tomorrow with a single game at Beloit College. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
