For the first time in a decade, the baseball team was swept in a four game series.
The Warhawks were 18-7 heading into a big weekend with two double-headers against the UW-La Crosse Eagles.
Unfortunately for the ’Hawks, they were unable to salvage a split in Sunday’s double-header after dropping the first two games on Saturday.
Despite losing 6-3 and 5-3 in the two games in Saturday’s double-header, sophomore pitcher Matt Roberts said the team was still optimistic.
“After Saturday’s games we were obviously disappointed, but our coach’s message was that we could still split and no damage would be done,” Roberts said.
On Sunday, the ’Hawks lost game one 6-5 in a tight battle. It ended with Eagles freshman Cole Cefalu’s walk-off single. Cefalu had four hits and seven RBIs on Sunday.
Roberts pitched five strong innings for the ’Hawks, giving up only one run on four hits.
In game two, the ’Hawks were down 4-1 after two innings. They then fought back to tie the game at four heading into the sixth.
The Eagles pulled ahead again by scoring two runs in the sixth inning and two more in the eighth inning.
The ’Hawks rallied in the top of the ninth, but only scored two runs before the game ended 8-6 in the Eagles’ favor.
Roberts said the biggest difference between the two teams was the Eagles’ clutch hitting.
“We hit a lot of balls hard, but at people,” Roberts said, “We still could have done more and executed better to win those games.”
Roberts and freshman right fielder Mike Mierow both said the mood after the fourth game was quiet and disappointing.
“After game four, we just packed up and headed out,” Mierow said. “Nobody said much on the bus.”
Roberts said the ’Hawks still believe they have the talent to do damage and make a run in the WIAC and NCAA tournaments. However, winning conference is improbable, even if the team were to win out.
Today the ’Hawks, now 18-11, are heading to UW-Platteville to play two must-win games to keep their WIAC title hopes alive.
At noon Saturday, the ’Hawks will begin a four game series against rival UW-Stevens Point at home.
