LA CROSSE, Wis. — The UW-River Falls baseball team opened its WIAC schedule against UW-La Crosse on Saturday afternoon, dropping both games of the doubleheader by scores of 12-5 and 9-0.
The Falcons, now 5-6 overal and 0-2 in the WIAC, round out the weekend doubleheader tomorrow. First pitch of game one is set for 12 p.m. at Copeland Park.
UW-La Crosse 12, UW-River Falls 5
The Falcons dropped the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader, falling by seven runs against the Eagles, who received votes in the latest ABCA national poll.
UWL built an early lead with runs in each of the first three innings, including a four-run third to go in front 7-0. UWRF responded in the middle innings, highlighted by a three-run home run from Kaleb Zabielski in the sixth that cut the deficit to 8-4, his first of the season.
Zabielski led the Falcons with three hits and three RBI, while Andrew Athmann and Tanner Hraby each recorded two hits.
The Eagles answered with four runs in the seventh to pull away. River Falls added a run in the ninth on an RBI double from Max Krebs to account for the final margin.
The Falcons totaled 12 hits but were hindered by four errors in the contest.
UW-La Crosse 9, UW-River Falls 0
UWRF was held scoreless and committed five errors as the home team secured a 9-0 win in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader.
The Eagles broke through in the second inning and steadily added on, scoring in six different frames while taking advantage of Falcon miscues. A three-run stretch across the third and fourth innings extended the lead to 5-0, before La Crosse added two more in the fifth to pull away.
Tanner Hraby paced the Falcons offensively, going 3-for-4 at the plate, while Max Krebs and John Santelman each added extra-base hits. River Falls put six hits on the board but was unable to string together a scoring threat, leaving eight runners on base.
On the mound, Vaughn Johnson took the loss after allowing seven runs (six earned) over five innings. Cole Scheel worked the final three innings in relief.
