RIVER FALLS, Wis. — The UW-River Falls baseball team was swept in a doubleheader by No. 4 UW-Whitewater on Saturday afternoon, falling 3-1 and 7-0.
UWRF drops to 18-15 overall and 11-11 in WIAC play. The Falcons remain in third place in the conference heading into Sunday. The series continues tomorrow, with a 12 p.m. first pitch.
UW-Whitewater 3, UW-River Falls 1
Game one was highlighted by strong starting pitching on both sides, with the Falcons falling just short.
The Warhawks scored two runs in the second inning to take an early lead. After the first batter struck out, UW-Whitewater used a single, a triple, and a sacrifice fly to plate two runs.
UW-Whitewater added to its lead in the third, scoring on a two-out rally sparked by a double and a single to make it 3-0.
UWW starter Gradin Taschner threw eight shutout innings, striking out nine and allowing just seven baserunners.
With Taschner out of the game entering the ninth, the Falcons attempted a late rally. They capitalized on a Warhawk error to score their first run but ultimately stranded the tying run on first in a first-and-third situation to end the game.
Falcon pitcher
Shaun Gavin continued his strong season, throwing his second complete game of the year. It was his fourth consecutive start of six or more innings with three or fewer runs allowed.
Tanner Hraby and
Andrew Athmann each recorded multi-hit games. Hraby marked his team-leading 13th multi-hit game of the season.
UW-Whitewater 7, UW-River Falls 0
The Warhawks took game two behind a complete-game shutout from pitcher Jackson Koenig.
UW-Whitewater used two big innings to fuel the win, scoring three runs on three hits in the third before adding four more in the fifth to put the game away.
The Falcons managed just two hits off Koenig - a
Hudson Wagner single in the second and a
Tanner Hraby double in the eighth.
Falcon pitcher
Brayden Ramus threw three shutout innings in relief, striking out two and allowing just one hit. He has been one of UWRF's most reliable bullpen arms this season, lowering his ERA to 1.96.
