Trojans Outlast V-Hawks in Doubleheader

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Baseball team fell to Dakota State University (SD) in a pair of close games on Saturday afternoon, 4-5 and 1-2. The V-Hawks fall to 6-30 (5-7 NSAA), while the Trojans improve to 24-9 (7-1 NSAA).

The V-Hawks would take the first lead of the game, as Ryan Mesa earned an RBI to bring in Chance Claman, followed by Blake Warner brining in Kyle Sontag. The Trojans responded in the top of the third with an RBI sacrifice fly and two-RBI double. DSU added to their lead with two runs on three hits in the fifth, but Spencer Hans chipped away at it with a solo home run in the bottom of the frame. Trailing by two in the bottom of the seventh, the V-Hawks would load the bases, and Nathan Faust earned an RBI to bring in Hans, but Viterbo left three runners on base and lost, 4-5.

Hans and Brett Stuessel each had two hits for the V-Hawks, while six different Trojans had hits. Brandon Jaenke (L, 2-6) struck out eight batters over 5.2 innings, Will Clair (W, 6-1) earned the win, and Curtis Flint (Sv, 1) earned the save with 6 K's in 2.2 IP.

In the second game, each team would score in the first inning, DSU's run coming on a RBI single, and VU's coming on a Warner solo homer. The V-Hawks recorded four more hits over the next three innings, but left the runners stranded on base. In the eighth, both teams recorded hits, but the stalemate stood, and after the V-Hawks left tow on in the ninth, the game went into extra innings. Dakota State's sacrifice fly in the top of the 10^th would be the game winner, as Vitebro left two more on in the bottom.

Warner, Hans, and Marcus Hornacek recorded two hits apiece, and Walker Hultgren has two for the Trojans. Ryan Gill (L, 0-2) recorded the loss, Alex Swack (W, 1-0) earned the win, and Nicholai Arbach struck out 11 batters.

The V-Hawks return to action on Friday, April 5 as they host Mayville State University (ND).