Baseball Drops Two Tight Games to UW-La Crosse

CHICAGO, Ill. – The Illinois Tech baseball team hosted more Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contests on Saturday, playing the first of two weekend doubleheaders against UW-La Crosse. The Eagles pulled away late to beat the Scarlet Hawks 6-1 before winning 5-4 in game two, dropping Tech to 8-10 overall and 0-4 in conference play.

Runs-Hits-Errors – Game 1

• UW-La Crosse: 6 runs, 8 hits, 1 error
• Tech: 1 run, 4 hits, 2 errors

How it Happened – Game 1

• Two leadoff walks from Tech starter James Tarala proved costly, as the leadoff man came around to score on a sacrifice fly to give the Eagles a quick 1-0 lead.
• Despite a first inning double by catcher Zachary Dickey, the Hawks struggled against Eagle ace Mason McMahon. He retired the next 17 hitters he would face, as a single with two outs in the seventh inning by first baseman Ted Howell broke the streak.
• In the meantime, Tarala worked on a gem of his own, with streaks of eight straight and five straight batters retired.
• The Eagles were able to break through against Tarala in the top of the fifth, scoring three runs on three hits and two errors to extend the lead to 4-0.
• Tarala, however, recovered nicely, coasting through the next three innings before allowing two more runs in the ninth.
• The Scarlet Hawks were able to build some momentum heading into game two, as a leadoff single from designated hitter Nick Worden came around to score on a ground out from left fielder Jacob Sorenson.

How it Happened – Game 2

• After the Eagles plated a run off Tech starter Ryan Cantlin in the first, the Scarlet Hawks responded in a big way. Center fielder Michael Courtney, Sorenson, and Dickey all singled to start the contest, with Dickey driving in Courtney to tie the score. Then, Howell doubled over the center fielder's head to clear the bases and give the Hawks a 3-1 lead.
• Cantlin allowed a hit in each of the next two innings, pitching over the baserunners to prevent damage. In the bottom of the third, the Eagles avoided a big Hawk inning (three hits) by picking off a runner and throwing another one out at the plate.
• La Crosse built off the momentum by tying the game in the top of the fourth thanks to three hits and an error.
• Over the next three innings, the Eagles continued to execute in the field, throwing out the Scarlet Hawks twice stealing and once more at home.
• In the top of the sixth, the Eagles scored twice more despite just recording one hit (a double by Luke Schmitt) to go up 5-3.
• Tech was able to get closer in the bottom of the seventh, as shortstop Orlando Cardenas-Juan scored on an error after leading off the inning with a single to left field.
• The contest became a battle of the bullpens in the eighth, as Tech's Berto Carselle and UWL's Caleb Willems entered and threw scoreless frames. Carselle continued the strong pitching in the ninth, retiring the Eagles in order.
• In the bottom of the ninth, Cardenas-Juan started the inning by reaching on an error. Courtney singled him to second with one out, creating a threat. However, the game ended when Dickey flew out to center field, missing a home run by just a couple of feet to straight away center field.

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Tech's game two pitching was strong thanks to Cantlin (seven innings, one earned run) and Carselle (two innings, two walks, one strikeouts).
• Tarala threw a complete game, allowing just three earned runs over nine innings of work.
• Howell was dynamite on the day, going 5-for-8 (4-for-4 in game two with two doubles and two RBI).
• Dickey had two hits in both games and also recorded a double and an RBI.

Up Next

• Tech once again plays UW-La Crosse in a doubleheader tomorrow at noon at Ed Glancy Field. Live video will be available, with live audio powered by Illinois Media School.