Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Media Relations

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

SOMERS, Wis. (May 3, 2014)-- The University of Wisconsin-Parkside baseball team ended up on the wrong end of a pair of one-run games on Saturday afternoon at Oberbruner Field, falling 9-8 in the opener before suffering a 4-3 extra innings setback in game two against Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division rival McKendree University.

In the opener, the Rangers (14-28, 12-22 GLVC) drew first blood, plating three runs in the bottom of the second inning. DJ Peltz led off the frame with a double down the left field line, later scoring on a groundout double play. A Bearcat fielding error allowed two more runs to cross the plate, giving the hosts the 3-0 advantage.

McKendree (20-28, 12-22 GLVC) quickly answered collecting five hits and scoring four runs to seize the 4-3 lead in the third inning. The Bearcats added to their lead in the fifth, pushing across a single run before the Rangers netted the score in the bottom of the fifth with RBIs from Eric DuCharme and Peltz.

The Bearcats added a pair of runs in both the seventh and eighth innings, grabbing the 9-5 edge. Parkside closed the gap to just a run in the eighth with Nick Janssen, Zach Cunningham and Jake Kolasinski all getting RBI singles. McKendree went to the bullpen after the Rangers closed within a run and A.J. Wise retired the final four batters of the game to claim the save and preserve the score 9-8 in favor of the visiting Bearcats.

The Rangers finished with 14 hits during the game with Janssen and Kolasinski both finishing three-for-five at the plate.

Cole Kroncke suffered the loss, allowing seven runs and striking out four in six innings of action. Joseph Plaud handled the final three innings, allowing three hits and striking out two. Cole Wille earned the win, tossing 2 2/3 innings in relief before Wise closed out the game.

In game two, a pair of late home runs spoiled the Rangers chance at the win, faltering 4-3 in eight innings.

UW-Parkside again struck first with Kolasinski belting a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning. McKendree tied the game in the third but the Rangers retook the lead with single runs in both the fourth and sixth innings.

Ryan Ruediger blasted a double to left center field in the fourth, scoring DuCharme while a Derek Tuttle double to right field plated Ruediger in the sixth inning for the 3-1 lead.

Down to their last two outs of the game, McKendree's Steven Todoschuk belted a two-run shot to tie the contest at 3-3. In the eighth, Zach Klockowski led off the inning with a home run in what turned out to be the winning run.

UW-Parkside had the tying run on base in DuCharme in the bottom of the eighth but a strikeout and a flyout ended the inning, giving McKendree the doubleheader sweep.

Ruediger led the offense in game two, finishing two-for-four with an RBI and a run as the Rangers outhit the Bearcats by a 7-5 margin.

Mario Samuel was saddled with the loss, throwing 160 pitches and striking out 13 in the complete game effort. McKendree's Sam Lidisky claimed the victory, striking out 10 in eight innings of action.

Saturday was Senior Day as the Rangers' honored its six seniors. Junior College transfers Eric DuCharme, Cole Kroncke and Derek Tuttle were honored for their two years of service with the Rangers, Christian Cardenas and Shaun Lena were honored for their three years with the UW-Parkside baseball program while Kris Zarek was honored as the lone four-year senior.

The Rangers close out the season tomorrow afternoon, playing another twinbill against McKendree. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m.