Thompson's RBI gave the Wolves a 5-4 lead entering the 9th
San Antonio, Tex. – The Cardinal Stritch University baseball team fell just short as they faced the University of Dallas on Sunday. The Wolves gave up four unearned runs in the game, and though they took a one run lead in the eighth, early errors came back to haunt them. The Crusaders came back in the final inning and the Wolves were unable to respond, falling 6-5 to UTD.
The Wolves took an early lead in the first, as Sterling Smith (Lombard, Ill.) led off with a walk and was advanced to second on a grounder to the first baseman by Austin James (Milwaukee, Wis.). A Tyler Henkel (Rhinelander, Wis.) double, down the right field line brought Smith in, giving Stritch a 1-0 advantage.
Dallas scored their first runs in the second inning, which began with a leadoff walk to Adam Farris (Flower Mound, Tex.). David Rettinger (San Antonio, Tex.) then singled on a hard shot to pitcher, Justin Cooper (Watertown, Wis.), and a throwing error by Wolves’ third baseman, Simon Lucas (Fond du Lac, Wis.), allowed Farris to score, while Rettinger moved to second. He would eventually score on a sacrifice by Michael Morrison (Dallas, Tex.), giving UD a 2-1 lead after two innings.
The Crusaders took advantage of another error by the Wolves in the fourth inning. Farris reached base once again, using an error by second baseman, James, and then advanced to second as Rettinger was hit by a pitch. The pair scored once again as the bottom of the lineup came through for Dallas, increasing the margin to 4-1.
Stritch had a big fifth inning, started by a single by Kyle Trewyn (Whitewater, Wis.). Mike Ploch (Burlington, Wis.) pinch ran for the Wolves’ catcher and immediately put himself into scoring position, stealing second base. Micah Thompson (North Prairie, Wis.) popped out for the first out of the inning, but a single by Smith put runners on first and third for Stritch. James hit a sacrifice fly to score Ploch before UD’s pitcher, Austin Cooper (Afton, Okla.), issued a walk to Henkel. A double down the left field line by
Dean Mlachnik (Muskego, Wis.) brought in both Smith and Henkel and tied the game 4-4.
The Wolves took a 5-4 lead in the eighth, as Thompson brought in Phil Cook (Milwaukee, Wis.) with a single to . Stritch had the chance for a few insurance runs, as Smith and Paul Blair (Lakewood, Calif.) sat on second and third base with two outs, but James couldn’t execute and left the runners stranded.
Entering the ninth inning, Cooper earned one out before walking Varea Costello (Anchorage, Alas.). The walk triggered a pitching change for Stritch, as Coach Zolecki sent Steve Lenski (Milwaukee, Wis.) to the mound. The sophomore gave up two consecutive singles, allowing Costello’s pinch runner to score and tie the game, 5-5. Lenski was able to force the Crusader’s number two hitter, Sean McSheffery (Woodridge, Ill.), to pop out for the second out of the inning, but Trevor Allred (Anchorage, Alas.) came through for Dallas with a single through the right side, giving UD a one run lead.
The attempt to rebut the ninth inning comeback was unsuccessful for the Wolves, as they fell 6-5.
Michael Schweiss (Parker, Colo.) gets the win for the Crusaders, while Lenski is credited with the loss for Stritch. Cooper pitched 8.1 innings for the Wolves, giving up only five hits and one earned run, while striking out five.
Henkel continues to lead the Stritch offense. The freshman had two hits, one RBI, and one run scored in the match-up. Smith earned recorded one hit, one walk, and two runs scored.
The Wolves fall to 1-10 with the loss. Their next game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 16. Stritch will face Trinity University.