Adrian, Mich. – The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team survived Adrian College in the opening game of the NCAA DIII Regional Tournament.
The Warhawks got off to a slow start offensively, recording only one hit the first time through the order.
Adrian went the first two innings without allowing a single Warhawk base runner. The momentum of shutting out UWW carried into an RBI double for the Bulldogs to open up the scoring in the top of the 3rd.
The Warhawks recorded their first hit in the bottom of the third, as Jackson hit a single. A double play ended the inning though, keeping the advantage on Adrian’s side.
The Warhawks were held without a runner again in the fourth, but the Warhawks finally added a run to the board with Sam Paden (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) hitting a sacrifice fly to tie the game. With two outs, Darryl Jackson (Milwaukee, Wis./Rufus King) hit his two-run home run to left field, putting the Warhawks up 3-1 and sparking some life into the batting.
Adrian tied the game back in the 6th and kept the top of the Warhawk order off the base path. Logan Eisenbarth (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) did his work on the mound, not allowing Adrian to expand on their hitting momentum.
The Warhawks grabbed the lead after Andy Thies (Tallahassee, Fla./Lawton Chiles) led off the bottom of the 7th with a solo home run. Thies’s home run started a 7th inning rally, scoring four runs for the Warhawks. Paden put another sacrifice fly in play, with Darryl Jackson (Milwaukee, Wis./Rufus King) and Dominik McVay (Mineral Point, Wis./Mineral Point) hitting back-to-back RBI doubles to put the Warhawks up 7-3.
Another three-up-three-down inning for Eisenbarth allowed another rally for the Warhawks in the eighth. Eli Frank (Bayport, Wis./Bay Port) hit an RBI single to give the Warhawks a five run lead.
Heading into the ninth, Adrian kept their chances alive by loading up the bases. But Brady Malkow (Brodhead, Wis./Brodhead) grabbed the last three outs of the inning, securing the win for the Warhawks & getting his first save of the season.
On the mound, Logan Eisenbarth (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) was credited with the win, going 2.2 innings without allowing a single hit. Malkow got the save with only one hit in the last inning while striking out one.
The Warhawks will face WashU tomorrow for the second game of the Regional tournament. First pitch is set for 1:30 PM (CDT) in Adrian, Michigan. The livestream may be viewed here.
