Matt Beyer breaks his home run drought in Thursday's win Concordia (Ill)

UW-Whitewater leftfielder Matt Beyer is no stranger to the Warhawk outfield. The junior out of Janesville Parker High School entered the season coming off two solid seasons for head coach John Vodenlich.

As a junior this year, the Janesville native has struggled at the plate and was hitting just .247 with 0 home runs. He finally “turned” on one in Thursday’s win over Concordia (Chicago) hitting his first home run of the season giving the Warhawks a 5-4 lead in the fourth inning.

(In the adjacent photo - Matt Beyer [17] is greeted by the UWW dugout after launching his first home run of the season in Thursday's 7-6 win over Concordia (Chicago) at James B. Miller Stadium - Tom Pattison photo)

“Matt has been playing better of late,” Hawks’ head coach John Vodenlich said following Wednesday’s 7-6 victory. ‘He continues to improve and is being to look, act and feel more like Matt Beyer.

Beyer hit .300 with eight home runs as a freshman in 2009. Last season, as a sophomore, Beyer topped the 300-mark again with a .308 batting average and seven home runs.

Beyer tells Voiceseyeonfootball.blogspot.com that he is trying to battle back after a very slow start to the season.

“In Florida I really struggled,” Beyer said. “I wasn’t seeing the ball well after not facing live pitching during preseason practice. Now that we’re back home I’m beginning to see the ball much better.”

Following his 1 for 3 afternoon at the plate with the home run and 2 RBI, Beyer is now hitting .247 with eight doubles, one home run and 16 RBI. He is also seven for seven in stolen base attempts.

Blessed with good speed, Beyer along with centerfielder Dyan Friend and rightfielder Danny Putnam make one of the top outfields defensively in the nation.