WAVERLY, Iowa – Wartburg baseball split its home opener with St. Mary's University (Minn.) in today's doubleheader. The Knights move to 6-6 overall and in non-conference play.
Game Summary
Game 1 (7 innings): Wartburg 6, SMU 4
After a scoreless top of the first, Wartburg struck first with a
Zach Wesolowski homerun to centerfield after singles from
Eliot Jurgensen and
Max Goodhue to make it 3-0 early. In the next frame Saint Mary's answered with a homer of its own to left field, making the score 3-2 after two innings played.
The Cardinals hit another homerun in the top of the third and added another run after an error to take their first lead of the game (4-3). The Knights defense did not give up another run the rest of the game following the error.
Jurgensen tied the game at 4 after his double caused an error in the outfield that moved him to third and
Will Armstrong in to score. Goodhue hit an RBI single, his second single of the day, to give the Knights the lead back 5-4. Wartburg added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth after Jurgensen hit into a fielders choice that scored
Caleb Andrews.
Joey Ciero got the start on the mound for the Orange & Black today and earned the win to move his starting record to 2-1 this season. In four innings pitched the junior right hander recorded seven strikeouts and allowed just four hits.
Aaron Eybers pitched the last three innings in relief of Ciero and earned his first save of the season. The closer allowed four hits and no runs on the bump for the Knights.
Game Leaders
The Knights had five players record multiple hits in game 1 with Jurgensen, Goodhue, Wesolowski,
Keaton Gray, and Andrews.
Wesolowski led the team with three RBI thanks to his first inning homerun and finished the contest 2/4 at the plate. The homerun is Wesolowski's second of the season to lead all Knights. Jurgensen recorded the only other extra base hit with his double.
Game 2 (7 innings): Wartburg 2, SMU 3
Both teams started the nightcap with scoreless at bats, but this time it was SMU who struck first with two runs in the second inning after an error and a balk brought in runs. The Knights were able to get hits, but unable to bring them in with three runners left on over the next two innings.
Wartburg settled down defensively after the second inning and only one hit was allowed from the third inning through the fifth. The Cardinals added an insurance run in the top of the sixth to make the score 3-0.
The Orange & Black's bats woke up in the bottom of the sixth after a
Zach Walton double scored Wesolowski for the first run. Walton scored later in the inning after
Ben DeKruyf made it a one score game with an RBI single to right field. The comeback fell short as the Cardinals held on for a 3-2 win after a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh for the Knights.
Dreyton LaVeine got the start in game two and finished five innings in the loss. The sophomore pitcher struck out four batters and walked none on the mound today.
Cael Boehmer pitched the final two innings and recorded three strikeouts and allowed just two hits to finish the game.
Game Leaders
Walton and Dekruyf led the offense today with two hits and an RBI each. Walton finished the contest 2/3 at the plate with two doubles, which were the only extra base hits of the game for Wartburg
Next Time Out
The Knights are in action next on Saturday, Mar. 19 with a doubleheader against St. Olaf College beginning at 1 p.m.
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