LA CROSSE, WI – The Bay Baseball Team (2-19) snapped a long losing streak on Sunday afternoon. After the Cavaliers of Western Technical College (9-15) pulled away late in the opener, winning 11-1, the Norse won the nightcap in dramatic fashion by a score of 12-10 in extra innings.
Bay found themselves in a tight battle in the first game. After three scoreless the Norse broke the tie in the top of the fourth. Dalton Graham (SO, Sault Ste. Marie, MI) doubled to lead off the inning, and was driven home by Grant Craft (SO, Canberra, Australia) who lined a double to center.
The Cavaliers answered in a big way in the bottom half. With two outs they strung together four hits and a walk to take a 5-1 lead. Western Tech took advantage of four walks in the fifth and used three hits to end the game with a six-run frame.
The Norse were only able to collect three hits in the game.
Bay's starter Jared Crow (SO, Gladstone, MI) was strong through three, but ended up giving up five runs on six hits and four walks in four innings of work. He struck out one batter.
In the second game the Cavalier took the lead in the bottom of the first. It looked as though the Norse would strand the bases loaded, but a wild pitch plated the first run of the game.
Bay answered back in the second by loading the bases themselves. Hector Araguayan (SO, Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela) drew a walk to tie the game, and the Norse took the lead when Carlos Velarde (FR, Panama City, Panama) beat out what would have been an inning ending double play.
The back-and-forth continued in the bottom of the second. Five hits in the frame gave the Cavaliers a 4-2 lead.
The Norse proceeded to load the bases again in the top of the third. Drake Forrest (SO, Gladstone, MI) drew a walk to drive in a run. The Norse tied the game on a groundout. With two outs Araguayan claimed the lead back for the Norse with a single, and then was part of a double steal as he slid around the tag at second while Forrest trotted home from third.
Western Tech plated a run in the bottom half, but the Norse added to their lead in the fourth. With runners on second and third, Craft grounded out to bring in a run. Sam Kiiskila (FR, Calumet, MI) lined a single to center driving in another one. An error extended the inning and with two outs Sam Williams (FR, Oxford, MI) hit a line drive up the middle to make the score 9-5 in favor of the Norse.
After holding the Cavaliers scoreless in the fourth, Bay once again loaded the bases with no one out. Craft came through with a sacrifice fly to deep left, but that would be all the Norse would get.
A one-out triple and a hit batsman would come around to score in the fifth for the Cavaliers. In the sixth Western Tech started a rally with one out. Wyatt Yarmer (FR, Aurora, CO) drove a triple to deep left to bring around two runs and make it a one-run lead. The Norse would bring in Craft to try and end the threat. After a strike out he was one out away from ending the inning, but Brandon Stadler (FR, Winona, MN) hit a comebacker that deflected off of Craft's glove and ended up being an infield single that tied the game.
Neither team put together a threat in the seventh, and it looked as though the Norse would go quietly in the eighth. With two outs Sam Williams swung and missed at a pitch that trickled away from the catcher. As Williams hustled to first, making the play close, the throw drew the first baseman off the bag, extending the inning for Bay. Araguayan would make it pay off. After working the count to 3-1 he crushed a ball to deep center that ended up as a double that scored Williams all the way from first. The Norse added to the lead when Carlos Velarde lined the first pitch into left, giving Bay a 12-10 lead.
Craft worked around a one-out double to close out the game, giving the Norse a much-needed win.
Matt Bush (SO, Pickford, MI) took the ball on short rest and went the first one and two thirds innings. Xavier Whittle (FR, Oakville, ON) pitched well for three and two-thirds. He gave up six hits, six runs, five earned, and three walks while striking out two. He left with the lead. Craft gave up two hits and no runs, walked no one, while striking out two.
Araguayan was three for five in the game with two doubles, three RBI, and a walk. Whittle ended up with three hits as well in three at bats. He had a double and two walks. Velarde and Williams each had two hits.
The Norse play again on Friday when they travel to the Milwaukee area and take on Carroll University's JV. On Saturday they visit Ripon College for a doubleheader before finishing the weekend with two games against Milwaukee Area Tech on Sunday.