Two close games make for exciting home finale

LA CROSSE, Wis. - The Viterbo University baseball team played its last home games of the season at the Viterbo Outdoor Athletics Complex on Tuesday against Waldorf. The V-Hawks split the series with Waldorf, winning game one 6-5, and losing game two 3-4.

Game 1 - Viterbo 6, Waldorf 5

• Viterbo struck first in the 1st inning after a Zach Braun (JR/Hartford, Wis.) double to center field to bring in Cole Benson (SR/Hastings, Minn.) and Ryan Ellingson (SR/La Crescent, Minn.).
• The next score would come after Benson was able to run in from a passed ball.
• Waldorf took the 4-3 lead in the top of the 5th inning after a pair of doubles brought four runs in.
• Viterbo answered when a Myles Zimdars (JR/Hartford, Wis.) double sent to center field brought Camden Smith (FR/Sioux City, Iowa) all the way around from first base.
• Waldorf regained the lead off a sacrifice bunt brought in a run in the top of the 8th. Zimdars came up big in the bottom of the 8th inning after his single produced another game-tieing run. The V-Hawks kept Waldorf scoreless in the top of the 9th inning.
• Darrian Escobar-Winter (SO/Falcon, Colo.) and Ellingson singled in the bottom of the 9th inning. Kevin Brandt (SR/Janesville, Wis.) was intentionally walked to load the bases for Benson. Benson singled to center to bring Escobar-Winter around to home for the walk-off win.

Game 2 - Viterbo 3, Waldorf 4

• Waldorf hit the first home run of the day in the 2nd inning to go up 1-0.
• Benson singled to right field in the bottom of the 4th inning to tie things up at one.
• Waldorf scored another run in the top of the 5th to regain the lead; however, a Remy Stern (SO) two-run homer put the V-Hawks back on top, up 3-2.
• A couple of errors for the V-Hawk defense and a sacrifice bunt put two back on the scoreboard for Waldorf in the top of the 6th inning, putting them up 4-3. The V-Hawks were able to put one on base in the bottom of the 7th but were unable to score.
• Damon Lukaszewski (SO/Cashton, Wis.) pitched five strong innings for the V-Hawks, producing 5 strikeouts, 82 total pitches, and only allowing 2 hits, 2 runs, and three walks.

The V-Hawks (13-21) will travel to Mayville State University on Saturday for a weekend series against the Comets. First game is slated for 1:00 p.m. Follow the action on our website or by following us on social media.