RIVER FALLS, Wis. — The UW-River Falls baseball program had a historic day at First National Bank of River Falls Field, hosting the program's home opener on Friday, March 28, the first home games since the program's reinstatement.

The Falcons split the doubleheader against the UW-Stevens Point Pointers, winning game two with a dramatic comeback and walkoff hit. UWRF's record moved to 6-5 overall and 1-1 in WIAC play.

UW-River Falls 8, UW-Stevens Point 12

The Falcons wasted no time scoring the opening runs, as JV Castillo hit a two-run home run to left field in the top of the first that marked the first runs scored at home since the reinstatement of the program. Castillo and Kole Paulsen scored on the play to make it 2-0 at the end of the first inning. 

The Falcons scored two runs in each of the first three innings, but Stevens Point took advantage of a huge third inning, scoring four runs on top of one run in the second. The Pointers scored another run in the top of the fourth that evened the game at 6-6.

With the game tied at 7-7 after an exchange of runs, the Pointers loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the seventh. The strong start to the inning resulted in five runs scored, which tilted the game toward UWSP. River Falls managed a run in the bottom of the ninth off an error, but ultimately fell 12-8.

Aidan O'Brien pitched three scoreless innings in relief, allowing no hits and just one walk. JV Castillo led the Falcons with three RBIs and two runs. Cade Bruett also had a two-hit performance, scoring one run. Andrew Athmann tallied two RBIs.

UW-River Falls 7, UW-Stevens Point 6

The second game of the doubleheader saw dramatics, a walkoff hit, and the first home victory since the reinstatement of the UWRF baseball program.

The game saw UW-Stevens Point build up a 5-0 lead after three innings, scoring three runs in the second and two in the third.

The Falcons showed life in the bottom of the fourth, as Kale Twombly doubled to right center to score two and cut the deficit to 5-2. After a scoreless fifth inning, the Pointers scored another run in the top of the sixth and led 6-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh.

UWRF rattled off three runs in the bottom of the seventh, as Max Krebs doubled to score two runners, and Connor Weltzien later singled to score Krebs. The Falcons cut down the UWSP lead to 6-5 after seven innings.

A fielder's choice by Ryan Eckerle evened the game in the eighth inning, as UWRF's pitchers continued to perform well by keeping the Pointers off the board in the final three innings.

After Weltzien singled to start off the bottom of the ninth, pinch runner John Santelman stole second to give the Falcons a runner in scoring position with no outs. Santelman advanced to third on a wild pitch, but Stevens Point managed two outs, making JV Castillo's at-bat the deciding factor. Castillo delivered by hitting a single into right center, scoring Santelman and drawing an ice-bucket shower from his Falcon teammates storming the field. The dramatic win capped off the historic day of baseball in River Falls, the team's first victory at home since being reinstated as a program.

Twombly led the way at the plate with a 3-4 performance, tallying two RBIs and two runs. Krebs also had two RBIs, along with one scored run. Weltzien, Hraby, and Max Stocco all had two-hit performances. On the mound, EJ Kuster earned the victory after pitching a perfect ninth inning in which he struck out one batter. Dillon Carrell pitched two scoreless innings in the start and Parker Nedland pitched three scoreless innings in relief.

Next up, the Falcons and Pointers will meet again at FNBRF Field in River Falls for a doubleheader on March 30. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.