DUBUQUE, Iowa – Baseball secured a regular season series win over Loras for a second-straight season after coming back from down seven runs to win 10-8 over the Duhawks on Saturday, Mar. 29. The win moves Wartburg to 10-8 overall and 4-3 in American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) play, while Loras is now 13-8 overall and 3-3 in A-R-C play.
 
Game Summary

• Third Inning
  • Following a scoreless top of the third, Loras brought the first three runs of the game across with two RBI base hits that made the score 3-0
• Fourth Inning
  • The Duhawks added two more runs to push the lead to 5-0 after a two-hit inning
• Fifth Inning
  • Wartburg got on the board in the top of the fifth when Charlie Krueger hit a solo-shot home run
  • Loras added another run in the bottom half, but the Knights were able to strand three runners to avoid more damage
• Sixth Inning
  • The Duhawks scored two more runs in the sixth after a home run and a sacrifice fly brought the score to 8-1
• Seventh Inning
  • The Knights came alive in the seventh when Cole Grider doubled to score both Krueger and Andrew Robinson followed by a home run from Zach Walton that cut the Loras lead to 8-5 after seven innings
• Eighth Inning
  • A Krueger single scored one run for the Knights and then Wiley Sullivan hit a game-tying two-run home run to left field to tie the game back up after trailing 8-1
  • In the bottom half, Conner Funk got the Knights out of a bases-loaded jam with no runs scored to keep the game tied 8-8
• Ninth Inning
  • Following back-to-back singles from Walton and Carter Stubitz, Keegan Schmitt bunted back to the pitcher which led to an error that scored both runners and gave Wartburg its first lead of the day at 10-8
  • Funk closed out Loras on the mound and secured a 10-8 win

 
Top Performers

• Charlie Krueger
  • 4/5
  • 2 RBI
  • HR
  • Double
• Zach Walton
  • 2/4
  • 2 RBI
  • HR
  • Walk
• Wiley Sullivan
  • 1/2
  • 2 RBI
    HR

 
Coach's Comments
"Great to get another A-R-C series win," said Head Coach Casey Klunder. "I was really proud of the way that guys stepped up offensively throughout this series. We had a lot of different guys that were able to make a big impact for us."

"We felt like that we were just one or two hits away from hitting our stride in these past couple series and today we got it done," continued Klunder. "I think today's game turned because we started playing for ourselves and showed a ton of fight both today and through the whole series."

"What a series for Carter (Stubitz) at the plate," said Klunder. "I'm so happy to see him have success because he is a relentless worker on and off the field and a great leader for us."

"Wiley Sullivan stepped up for us in a huge way today with the play of the game," Klunder said. "He's a guy who didn't like how his season went last year and worked all offseason to improve in all phases of the game, so it was great to see him take advantage of that opportunity today."

Notes/Streaks

• Have taken the regular season series vs Loras in back-to-back years
• Wartburg has now scored 10 or more runs in 3/7 A-R-C games so far this season
• 31^st career home run from Walton
  • Two away from tying the career record at Wartburg
• First collegiate home run for Krueger
• First home run of the season for Sullivan
• Co. Funk is now 2-0 in decisions this season

 
Next Time Out
The Knights will be in action next on Tuesday, Apr. 1 for a home game against Luther College.