Game of Streaks, Warhawks unable to overcome 10-0 run from the Cougars
By Broderick Frye
Asst. Sports Information Director
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball fell to Misericordia [PA] in Game 1 of the NCAA DIII Championship Series. The Cougars scored 10 unanswered runs starting in the 2nd inning, and the Warhawks were unable to match. The Cougars picked up the 12-9 victory to take a 1-0 series lead.
The Warhawks struck first, with Adam Cootway (DePere, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran) smashing a ball to left field, scoring the first two runs of the game.
With a 2-0 lead, the Warhawks felt in control, but Misericordia put up a 5-run 2nd inning to take the lead.
After holding the Warhawk offense in check, Misericordia collected another 5-run inning in the bottom of the 4th, taking a 10-2 lead.
The Warhawks ended the 10-0 run with a six run top of 5th. Eli Frank (Bayport, Wis./Bay Port) got things started with a two-run home run. Cootway scored after an Andy Thies (Tallahassee, Fla./Lawton Chiles) single & Dominik McVay (Mineral Point, Wis./Mineral Point) made it to first on a dropped third strike to keep the inning going.
Bennett Frazer (Oconto, Wis./Oconto) continued the scoring with a sacrifice fly, sending Sam Paden (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) home. Aaron Holland (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) added the final run with a RBI double down the left field line.
Misercordia added another another run to extend the lead back up to three runs. Cootway closed it back down to two with an RBI single in the top of the 8th.
The Cougars added another insurance run, making it three runs or three outs in the top of the ninth for the Warhawks. The Warhawks were unable to get runners on, with Misericordia picking up the 12-9 win.
The Warhawks will look to fight back on Thursday, June 4th. The first game is set to begin at 11:00 AM EDT [10 AM CDT] with a third possible game to follow if the Warhawks win.
