FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bill Boppre, Sports Media Assistant
 
Game One Box Score
 
Game Two Box Score

Somers, Wis. (May 2, 2015)-- The University of Wisconsin-Parkside baseball team split their doubleheader season finale against Saint Joseph's College (IND) in a Great Lakes Valley Conference matchup; winning the opener 4-3 and dropping the nightcap 8-6 at Oberbruner Field.
 
Trailing 1-0 in the first inning of game one, the Rangers (12-27, 11-25 GLVC) were able to tie the game with aggressive base running by Troy Bittenbender.  Troy was attempting to steal third which forced an errant throw and he was able to score on the play.
 
Parkside kept things going in the second inning.  DJ Peltz started off the inning with a double to the gap in right, and then advanced to third on a sac bunt.  Andrew Luscomb was able to get the RBI with a ground out to second base, scoring Peltz, and giving the Rangers the 2-1 lead.  In the bottom of the third with two outs, Patrick Cottrell reached base on a single up the middle, and then Jake Kolasinski hit a towering fly ball to right field that bounced out of the right fielder's glove.  This allowed Parkside to take a 3-1 lead as Pat was able to score on the play.
 
The Pumas (24-22-1, 18-17-1 GLVC) tied the game up in the top of the fourth with a two-run home run to left field off of starting pitcher, Josh Serio.  The score remained tied until the sixth inning, when Jake Kolasinski hit a solo shot to left field, and the Rangers took the 4-3 lead.  Joseph Plaud came in to face the last two batters of the game and picked up the save.  John Perez got the win in relief for Parkside, and Keegan Long pitched five innings in the loss for Saint Joseph's.
 
In between games, the UW-Parkside baseball program took a moment to honor their four outgoing seniors: Darius Hampton, John Perez, Ryan Ruediger, and Patrick Cottrell.  The players were joined by family and friends as they were recognized by the team.
 
The second game started off the same as the first, with a 1-1 tie at the end of the first inning.  The Rangers got their run off of a Jake Kolasinski double that scored Zach Thompson from first base.  The Pumas were able to manufacture runs in the fourth and fifth innings, taking a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth.  In the Rangers half of the inning, Troy Bittenbender earned a free pass to first base after being hit by a pitch, and then proceeded to steal second base.  With Bittenbender in scoring position, Zach Thompson hit an RBI single to center field, and reduced the Puma lead to 4-2. 
 
The Green and White had a rally inning in the sixth inning.  With two outs and a runner on second, Ryan Fischer hit a RBI single to right field.  This trimmed the Parkside deficit to 4-3.  Nick Janssen came into to pinch hit, and took a walk.  With runners on second and third after a wild pitch, Troy Bittenbender hit a double to right-center field, scoring both runners, and giving the team a 5-4 lead. 
 
Saint Joseph's took the lead back in the seventh by scoring four runs, including a two-run homer from Martin Napleton.  The Rangers were able to get one run back in the ninth inning off of a solo home run from Zach Thompson, and eventually fell to the Pumas 8-6.  Mario Samuel took the loss for the Rangers, pitching six and two-thirds, and striking out five.