CARDINAL STRITCH UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

Joliet, Ill. – It was miscues on the field that cost the Cardinal Stritch University Wolves a win in a down to the wire loss to St. Francis University. After giving up four unearned runs, the Wolves fought back to tie the game 4-4, using a three run seventh. But miscues in the field continued to plague Stritch, and the Fighting Saints scored another unearned run in the ninth, leading to their 6-5 win over the Wolves.

Senior Micah Thompson (North Prairie, Wis.), usually an infielder for Stritch, got the ball against USF and took advantage of the opportunity. He got help from the Wolves offense immediately, as Sterling Smith (Lombard, Ill.) led off with a single and was moved to third on a single by Dean Mlachnik (Muskego, Wis.). The Wolves were then successful on a double steal, scoring Smith to give Stritch a 1-0 advantage.
The lead didn’t last as the St. Francis used two Stritch errors in the fourth to go up 3-1. The troubles continued for the Wolves’ defense, as an error by second baseman Cody Tesch (Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.) allowed USF’s leadoff man on base. Two hits and a throwing error put the Fighting Saints up 4-1 before the Wolves used a triple play to end the inning. With runners on second and third, Jake Lark made a nice play on a liner to left, enabling him to double off the runner at second. Tesch then made a head’s up play, gunning out the runner from third as he attempted a late tag up.

Stritch rallied back in the seventh, using two out hits by Smith, Mike Ploch (Burlington, Wis.), and Mlachnik to bring in three runs and tie the game.

Thompson gave up two consecutive doubles and his first earned run of the game in the top of the eighth before being replaced with Lucas Simon (Fond du Lac, Wis.) on the mound. Simon quickly closed the inning, but the Wolves’ were once again faced with a deficit.

Stritch came through, matching St. Francis to tie the game 5-5. Paul Blair (Lakewood, Calif.) pinch hit and his patience at the plate earned him a free base. He was moved into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt by Phil Cook (Milwaukee, Wis.). Tesch advanced him to third with a grounder to second base, and Tyler Henkel (Rhinelander, Wis.) used a two out double to score Blair and even the score once again.

It was again an error that allowed the Fighting Saints’ leadoff hitter to reach base, and a bunt, wild pitch, and single by USF brought him in to score, giving St. Francis a 6-5 lead. The Wolves had the heart of the order up in their half of the ninth, but they were sat down in order, and Stritch took the 6-5 loss.

Simon gets the loss and falls to 0-2 on the season. He gave up one hit and one unearned run in two innings of work. Thompson threw seven innings for Stritch, allowing eight hits, no walks, and five runs (only one earned).

The Wolves outhit USF 11-9, getting multiple hits from Smith, Ploch, Mlachnik, and Henkel. Smith scored two runs while the remaining three each recorded an RBI in the match-up.

With the loss, Stritch falls to 16-31 overall and 8-19 in the conference. Their next game is against UW-Milwaukee on Tuesday, May 4 at 4:00 p.m.