Late Rallies Lift Comets Over V-Hawks

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Baseball team suffered a pair of losses to Mayville State University (ND) on Friday afternoon, 3-11 and 5-11. The series was moved from Mayville, ND to La Crosse due to weather conditions, so Viterbo batted in the top of each inning. The V-Hawks now hold a 8-27 record (6-14 NSAA), while the Comets improve to 16-18 (10-9 NSAA).

Ryan Brooks would get the V-Hawks on the board first with an RBI single in the top of the second inning that brought home Gavin Daniel. Mayville would respond in the bottom of the inning with two hits that led to four runs, but the top of the third saw Marcus Hornacek's RBI single score Kendal Hofer to bring the score to 2-4. MSU started getting hot toward the end of the game, scoring a run in the bottom of the sixth, two in the bottom of the seventh, and four in the bottom of the eighth. The V-Hawks only managed one run in that time, an RBI from Hornacek to score Camden Smith in the top of the eighth. Frankie McGuire managed to get on base in the ninth, but would not find home and the V-Hawks lost 3-11.

Hornacek led the offense with a hit with two RBIs, while Brooks added one on his hit as well. Anthony Villanueva and Marcus Hughes each had hits and multiple RBIs for Mayville. Dominic LeBlanc recorded the loss and struck out two batters, while Braxton Greenburg earned the complete game win.

Spencer Hans would record an RBI double, bringing in Matthew Monaghan to start the second game strong for VU. The Comets had their own RBI single in the second, but Viterbo would take back the lead in the third with a Carson Trumpold RBI single to score Hans. Ryder Mortensen's RBI double brought in Hans again to extend the lead to 3-1, but three runs for Mayville in the bottom of the fifth for the lead. Hans rocked another double to bring in Ryan Mesa, followed by a Daniel RBI to score Smith and give Viterbo the lead again. But Mayville would rally with a huge sixth inning, scoring seven runs on five hits to claim the 5-11 win.

Hans went 2-for-3, scored twice and batted in two runs, while Trumpold went 3-for-3 with an RBI of his own. Adam Senden had three RBIs on 2-for-3 hitting. Brandon Shepherd               recorded the loss, and Anthony Sanchezhad four Ks. Kole Jessamine earned the win.

Viterbo returns to action on Tuesday, April 18 for a doubleheader at Mount Mercy University (Iowa) starting at 2:30.