By Broderick P. Frye
Asst. Sports Information Director
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team fought from behind in the Regional Championship, coming away with a 6-4 victory after Scolan’s go-ahead home run in the 7th inning put the Warhawks up for good.
As soon as the first pitch came in, the fans at Prucha Field knew they were in for a classic Regional Championship game. The Warhawks and Colonels both went three-and-out in the first inning, with both defenses on full display.
In the second inning, the Warhawks forced another three at-bat inning and capitalized on it, scoring the first run of the game with Sam Paden (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) hitting a sacrifice fly to center field.
Centre recorded two hits in the third inning, but were unable to get any runners around, as the Warhawks held on to their 1-0 lead. The next frame, Centre put the Warhawks in a deficit for the first time all tournament, as a 2-RBI single put the Colonels up 2-1.
Paden recorded yet another RBI in the bottom of the fourth to tie things back up again. But Centre retook the lead after a RBI single and a sacrifice bunt scored two in the top of the 5th.
Centre looked like they had the momentum, holding the two run lead after only facing six Warhawk batters in the bottom of the 5th and 6th inning.
Heading into the bottom of the 7th, the Warhawks looked to get back on the board after two hitless innings. The lead-off Andy Thies (Tallahassee, Fla./Lawton Chiles) got on base after a walk, and Paden hit his third RBI of the game, sending Thies home and bringing the Warhawks within one.
Daryl Jackson then hit a single of his own, scoring Paden and tying up the game at 4-4. Matt Scolan (Downers Grove, Ill./South) had the final say, as he hit a deep home run to right field, scoring both himself and Jackson for the go-ahead runs.
Scolan knew the ball was going to be gone as soon as it left the park, celebrating with the team down the first base line.
The Colonels only had one base runner in the top of the 8th, and then faced WIAC Newcomer of the Year Jack Hagen (San Clemente, Cal./San Clemente) on the mound in the 9th. Hagen and the Warhawks recorded three straight outs to retire the side and pick up the win in the Regional Championship.
Hagen picked up his first collegiate save and Cade Hansen (New Braunfels, Texas/Smithson Valley) the win on the mound. Hansen pitched 3.0 innings from the 6th thru the 8th and only had two base runners with a hit and a walk.
On offense, Paden was the hot bat, going 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs for the Warhawks. Scolan had two RBIs from his go-ahead homer, and Daryl Jackson picked up one RBI. Andy Thies (Tallahassee, Fla./Lawton Chiles) drew three walks in the contest.
The Warhawks will await the outcome of the La Crosse, Wis. Regional. UWW will face the advancing team of either UW-La Crosse or Coe College. Times and Locations will be announced on NCAA.com on Monday, May 20th.
