WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — The UW-River Falls baseball team earned a 6-5 win over Clarkson University Saturday evening during its second game of its Florida spring break trip at the RussMatt Invitational.
The Falcons, now 2-0 overall, used timely hitting and a steady effort from their bullpen to take down the Golden Knights, collecting 10 hits while drawing six walks in the tightly contested matchup.
UWRF broke through first in the third when
John Santelman led off with a single and scored along with
Max Krebs when
Andrew Athmann delivered a two-run single to give the Falcons a 2-0 lead.
Clarkson answered with single runs in the third and fourth to even the score, but UWRF regained the lead in the fifth. Krebs doubled down the left-field line and later came home on a Carter Klein groundout to make it 3-2.
The Golden Knights briefly surged ahead in the sixth with a two-run double, but the Falcons responded immediately in the seventh. Athmann reached to start the frame and Klein followed with a bunt single. After loading the bases, Jeffrey Freund drove in a run on a fielder's choice while Clarkson committed an error on the play, and the Falcons tied the game moments later to even the score at 4-4.
River Falls moved back in front in the eighth. Krebs singled and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Athmann before Klein lifted a sacrifice fly to left field that brought Krebs home for the go-ahead run.
The Falcons added another run earlier in the rally sequence that proved crucial, ultimately providing enough cushion to withstand a Clarkson push in the ninth. The Golden Knights plated a run and brought the tying run into scoring position, but Connor Ducklow closed the door to secure the save.
Krebs led the Falcons offensively, going 2-for-4 with three runs scored, a double, and two stolen bases. Santelman added a three-hit performance, while Athmann and Klein each drove in two runs.
On the mound, Cade Bruett started and worked four innings, allowing two runs (one earned) while striking out three. Vaughn Johnson followed with two innings and four strikeouts to the earn the win, EJ Kuser pitched a scoreless seventh inning, and Ducklow struck out three across the final two innings to record the save.
UWRF continues its spring break action on Monday, March 16, facing Salem State at 11 a.m. (ET) in Auburndale, Fla.
