FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Media Relations

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

BOLIVER, Mo. (Feb. 13, 2015)-- The University of Wisconsin-Parkside baseball team opened up its 2015 campaign with a doubleheader split on Friday afternoon, rallying past host Southwest Baptist University 11-7 in the opener before surrendering the final 11 runs in an 11-3 setback in the nightcap at Dodson Field.

In the opener, the Rangers (1-1) fell behind early before piling on 11 runs in a three-inning power surge to seize the lead. The Bearcats (1-1) opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with Christian Binger belting a two-run home run. A double later in the inning increased Southwest Baptist's edge to 3-0 after one inning of action.

The Rangers got things rolling in the third inning, plating four runs with two outs to grab the lead. Jake Kolasinski singled up the middle to drive in Zach Thompson to begin the scoring before DJ Peltz tied the contest with a two-run double to left field. Darius Hampton pushed across the go-ahead run the next at bat with an outfield single to bring home Peltz.

Troy Bittenbender blasted a two-run home run in the fourth inning, plating Thompson who led off the frame with a walk, giving the Rangers the 6-3 edge. UW-Parkside piled on five more runs in the fifth inning, capitalizing on errors to plate a pair of runs before Zach Cunningham cleared the bases with a three-run home run for the 11-3 lead. SBU countered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth and one more in the bottom of the seventh but it was not enough as the Rangers captured their first season-opening victory since 2012.

Cunningham finished the game two-for-three at the plate with three RBIs while Peltz and Hampton each collected a pair of hits.

Josh Serio picked up the win on the mound for the Rangers, tossing 4 2/3 innings and striking out six. Joseph Plaud handled the final 2 1/3 innings, fanning five of the eight batters he faced.

Cory Borsh was saddled with the loss for Southwest Baptist, allowing six runs and striking out four in three innings of action.

In game two, the Rangers raced out to an early 3-0 advantage but was unable to withstand a Bearcat offensive onslaught, surrendering 11 unanswered to finish the day with a doubleheader split.

Ryan Ruediger got things going for Parkside in the top of the first, collecting an outfield single to plate Bittenbender. Peltz tallied the second RBI of the inning, driving in Ruediger with two outs for the 2-0 advantage. Bittenbender pushed the Rangers lead to 3-0 in the third inning, leading off the frame with a solo home run but Southwest Baptist countered in the bottom of the inning with a two-run home run. The Bearcats seized the lead with two runs in the fourth inning before piling on three runs apiece in both the fifth and sixth innings. SBU tacked on an insurance run in the seventh, pushing its lead to 11-3. Parkside threatened in the top of the ninth but two straight punchouts by SBU hurler Calvin Lovig sealed the game.

Peltz led the Rangers at the plate in game two, finishing with two doubles.

Southpaw Mario Samuel absorbed the loss on the mound, striking out six and allowing six runs in four innings of action. SBU's Michael Proiette tallied the win, striking out 12 in eight innings of action.

The Rangers remain in Boliver for the weekend, squaring off against Winona State University in a doubleheader on Sunday at 12 p.m.