Jacob Lark recorded two hits and scored in each of the Wolves losses to DeSales
San Antonio, Tex. – It wasn’t the day the Cardinal Stritch University baseball team was hoping for in Texas, as they fell in both games of a double header against DeSales University. The Wolves couldn’t contain the offensive power of the Bulldogs, and fell 23-3 and 7-3
The Wolves got off to a good start in the first inning of game one, loading the bases with their first three batters, Austin James (Milwaukee, Wis.), Tyler Henkel (Rhinelander, Wis.), and Dean Mlachnik (Muskego, Wis.). Jacob Lark (Germantown, Wis.) came to the plate with no outs, but couldn’t bring in any runs as a DeSales’ third baseman took the out at home. The Wolves missed another opportunity with a strikeout by Dean Backman (Whitewater, Wis.) before Henkel finally crossed the plate on a grounder by
Andy Abromaitis (Oak Creek, Wis.). The chance at a big first inning ended on a ground out by Kyle Trewyn (Whitewater, Wis.).
The Bulldogs came out with their bats on fire, scoring four runs on four hits in the first. In the second inning, Tyler Martin (Pekin, Ill.) gave up a lead-off double, but it shouldn’t have hurt him. However, three Stritch throwing errors made it tough for the senior to get out of the inning, and DeSales put four more runs on the board to take an 8-1 lead.
Stritch couldn’t get anything going on offense, and the Bulldogs continued to pound away at the plate, scoring two runs in both the third and fourth inning before the Wolves were able to respond. In the top of the fifth, Lark singled through the left side and stole second to put himself in scoring position. Backman was able to execute with a single to right, but a quick third out by DeSales ended the inning for the Wolves.
Marcus Perleberg (Delafield, Wis.), who took the mound for Stritch in the fourth, lost control in the fifth, giving up two walks, a single, and hitting a batter before he was replaced by John Chengary (Darian, Ill.). Things didn’t go much better for the sophomore, as two runners scored before the first man he faced doubled up the middle. The Bulldogs scored a total of eight runs before the Wolves used a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Brian Hershinger (Grafton, Wis.) entered the game for Stritch in the sixth. The senior gave up a lead-off single, followed by a homer by Ethan Moser (Boyertown, Penn.), but quickly recovered for three straight outs. The Bulldogs scored one run in the seventh, taking advantage of two walks, but the Wolves’ defense again used a double play to get out of a jam. Hershinger held DeSales to their first scoreless inning in the eighth.
Sterling Smith (Lombard, Ill.) led off the ninth with a solo home run for Stritch, but it wasn’t nearly enough to for the Wolves to come back. They were unable to bring anyone else around the bases, and fell 23-3 to the Bulldogs.
Looking for redemption, the Wolves came out strong in game two. Andy Klein (Cudahy, Wis.) held DeSales scoreless through the first, while Backman and Lucas Simon (Fond du Lac, Wis.) singled in Henkel and Lark to give Stritch a 2-0 advantage.
Klein struck out the first two batters in the second inning, but after two singles the Bulldogs used two consecutive errors by James at second base to bring in three runs. Though the inning should have been over, DeSales scored two more runs before Klein found his way out, putting the Wolves down 5-2.
Stritch was able to fight back within two in their half of the second, as Henkel brought in Smith with a double to left center. Klein used three strikeouts and got himself out of a jam in the top of the third, taking it upon himself to slow down the heavy Bulldog bats. But it wasn’t long before DeSales struck again, as a triple by Moser brought in two more runs in the fourth, giving the Bulldogs a 7-3 lead.
Klein made it through the fifth unscathed, but as the Wolves struggled to score the margin remained at four runs. Justin Calvert (Milwaukee, Wis.) took the mound for Stritch in the sixth, earning three quick outs, but the lack of offense continued for the Wolves.
Steve Lenski (Milwaukee, Wis.) entered the game in the seventh and quickly sat down three straight batters, but the improved pitching turned out to be fruitless, as the Bulldogs matched the three up, three down effort and closed the game, 7-3.
Leading the Wolves at the plate was Henkel, who had four hits, one RBI, and one run scored on the day. Smith recorded three hits, including a solo homer.
Stritch falls to 1-9 with the losses. They are next slated to face the University of Texas at Dallas, tomorrow, Mar. 14. Game time is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m.