V-Hawks combine for 36 runs in day two against Presentation

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Baseball team (8-9, 3-1 NSAA) wrapped up their series against Presentation College with a doubleheader at home on Monday. The V-Hawks defeated the Saints in both games to open up conference play with three wins.

Game 1 – Viterbo 11, Presentation 10

• Kevin Brandt (SR/Janesville, Wis.) had three of the first four RBI's for the V-Hawks after a double and a home run in the first and second innings.
• Viterbo starting pitcher, Damon Lukazewski, and the Viterbo defense got out of three bases loaded situations in the first four innings to keep Presentation scoreless until the fifth.
• Presentation tied things up at 10 in the top of the ninth inning.
• Viterbo loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth and Cole Benson (SR/Hastings, Minn.) drove in a run with a base hit to win the game for the V-Hawks.

VU Leaders: Kevin Brandt – 3 RBI, HR, 2 H, 2 BB. Cole Benson – 3 RBI, 2 H, 2 BB. Braxton Ghelfi (SR/West Salem, Wis.) – 3 H, 3 R, RBI. Damon Lukaszewski (SO/Cashton, Wis.) – 4.0 IP, 2 H, 6 K. Jacob Pinc (SR/St. Paul, Minn.) – 2.0 IP, 5 K.

Game 2 – Viterbo 25, Presentation 2

• The Viterbo bats started hot, as the V-Hawks scored 13 runs in the bottom of the first inning, topped off by a 2-run homerun by Darrian Escobar-Winter (SO/Falcon, Colo.).
• Escobar-Winter hit a three-run bomb, his second homer of the game, in the bottom of the third to bring in Braun and Benson.
• Benson and Remy Stern (SO) each doubled in the fourth inning to knock in two RBI's of their own.
• Kyle Gilbertson (SR/La Crosse, Wis.) pitched five innings for the V-Hawks, only allowing two Presentation runs. Ian Bergstrom (FR/Rochester, Minn.) closed for Viterbo, not allowing a run.

VU Leaders: Kyle Gilbertson – 5.0 IP. Darrian Escobar-Winter – 6 RBI, 2 HR, 3 R 3 H. Zach Braun (JR/Hartford, Wis.) – 4 RBI, 3 H, 3 R. Cole Benson – 3 RBI, 4 H, 4 R.

The Viterbo University Baseball team will be back home for a weekend series against Bellevue on Friday. Game time is set for 1:00 pm. Follow the action on our website or by following us on social media.