UWW blasts UW-Superior 17-1 to sweep Saturday's doubleheader

The UW-Whitewater baseball team made quick work of UW-Superior in game-two of Saturday’s WIAC opening doubleheader on Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium.

The Warhawks jumped out to a 14-nothing lead through three innings and cruised to a 17-1 seven inning “run-rule” victory over the Yellowjackets.

The top of the order for the Warhawks destroyed Superior pitching a game-two.

Andrew Eichstaedt and Danny Putnam combined to got 8 for 10 at the plate in the twinbill nightcap.

Eichstaedt, a transfer from UW-Oshkosh, was 4 for 5 including a home run, 4 RBI while scoring 3 runs.

Putnam also finished 4 for 5 scoring 3 of the Hawks 17 runs.

(In the adjacent photo - Hawk head coach John Vodenlich (left) has a short "confab" with Danny Putnam (center) and Andrew Eichstaedt (right). The two combined to go 8 for 10 in the Hawks 17-1 victory in game-two of the WIAC opening weekend for both teams - Tom Pattison photo)

For Eichstaedt, the former Oshkosh Titan, it was all about relaxing at the plate.

“Coaches were just telling me to relax up there (at the plate)” Eichstaedt said following the game.

In his new relaxed approach, the junior ripped a two-run homer in his first at bat scoring Putnam in front of him. As Eichstaedt crossed home plate he yelled out “finally” for good reason.

“I was pretty excited because in three years in college it was my first home run.”

After only playing 10 games for UW-Oshkosh last season, Eichstaedt quit the team and shortly and made the decision to transfer to UW-Whitewater.

“I like it down here a lot,” the Hawks third baseman indicated after the Warhawks game-two victory Saturday. “All the guys are real nice and I think I have found a spot at third base. So far everything is working out real well.”

Colin Grove started game-two for the Hawks and was taken out of the game as a precautionary measure after pitching just one inning.

“He is going to be an excellent pitcher for us,” Vodenlich said about his freshman pitcher out of Beloit Memorial High School.

Kyle Lee entered the game as Whitewater’s long relief specialist. The former Beaver Dam athlete didn’t disappoint by giving up just two hits and zero runs in five innings of relief. Lee was credited with the win to raise his 2011 record to 2 & 0.

Jack Larson pitched the sixth and gave up three hits and a run in the final inning of the run-rule shortened game.

The win ups UWW’s season record to 9 & 2 overall and 2 & 0 in the WIAC.

The two teams will do it again Sunday with game-one’s first pitch set for 12-noon at the Mills.

GAME 2 LINE SCORE
UW-Whitewater 17 runs, 19 hits, 0 errors, 7 LOB
UW-Superior 1 run, 6 hits, 3 errors, 9 LOB

Hawks ride the right arm of Justin Lambert to 6-2 win in game-one vs. UW-Superior

The UW-Whitewater baseball team rode the starting pitching of Justin Lambert and a 12 hit attack led by Travis Wessels to a 6-1 win over UW-Superior in the first game of a WIAC opening weekend doubleheader on Prucha Field at James Miller Stadium in Whitewater.

Lambert pitched eight solid innings giving up just one run, scattered eight Yellowjacket hits while striking out five and issuing just one walk.

The sophomore from Mount Horeb has been an “innings eater” in his two starting assignments so far this season. He piched 7.1 innings in an 8-6 win over Mt. Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) last month in Florida. In game-one against Superior, Lambert pitched 8.0 innings before turning it over to Mathew Roberts who pitched the 9th inning.

(In the adjacent photo - UWW starting pitcher Justin Lambert stares in to Warhawk catcher Rob Coe in the Warhawks 6-2 win over the Yellowjackets. Lambert pitched 8 solid innings in his second start of the season - Tom Pattison Photo)

Travis Wessels paced UWW’a 12 hit attack with a 3 for 4 game-one including two doubles, two RBIs while scoring two Warhawk runs.

Wessels has taken over the everyday shortstop spot role replacing Mike Kenseth who wrapped a great career last spring. The junior from Tomah is enjoying being the Hawks everyday shortstop.

“It feels good,” Wessels said after game 1 Saturday afternoon. “I fielded the ball when it was hit to me today and I finally got a couple of hits (three for four in game-one and two four five in game-two).”For me it is playing a solid short stop in the field and get some timely hits. If I can do that I will have a successful season.”

Veteran UWW head coach John Vodenlich has been impressed with Wessels’ play.

“He can throw, he has good hands and he can run,” Vodenlich tells Voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com. “As you saw today he has a pretty good stick too.”

Back in 2009 Mike Kenseth suffered a late-season injury and Wessels played great in helping lead Whitewater to the NCAA Regional title game.

Danny Putnam stayed hot at the plate going 3 for 5 in game-one of the doubleheader.

Andrew Eichstadt added a 2 for 4 game while Putnam and Matt Beyer added an RBI each for the Warhawks.

U-dub dub raised its record to 8 & 2 on the season and 1 & 0 in the WIAC.
The loss drops the Yellowjackets to 3 & 7 and 0-1 in conference play

FINAL LINE SCORE:
Whitewater 6 runs, 12 hits, 0 errors, 7 left on base
Superior 1 run, 10 hits, 6 errors, 9 left on base

Warhawks roll in game two 17-1 to sweep Yellowjackets at the Mills

UW-Whitewater finished its sweep of UW-Superior 17-1 in game-two of Saturday's doubleheader at the Mills in Whitewater.

Much more including quotes from the dugout will be posted this evening here on www.voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com.

Game 1 Final: Hawks 6, Superior 1

The Warhawk baseball team rode the solid starting pitching of Justin Lambert and a 12 hit attack led by Travis Wessels to a 6-1 victory in game one of a WIAC opening doubleheader Saturday on Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium.

Lambert, a sophomore, got the starting assignment on the mound for the Warhawks. He went 8 innings giving up just one run, eight hits, struck out five and walked two . The former Mount Horeb athlete is now 2 & 0 on the season.

Travis Wessels led the Hawk hitting attack in game-one, going 3 for 4, with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI. Andrew Eichstadt added a 2 for 4 game. Dan Putnam and Matt Beyer added RBIs for UWW.

Whitewater raises its season record to 7 & 2. The loss drops the Yellowjackets to 3 & 7 on the year.

FINAL LINE SCORE:
Whitewater 6 runs, 12 hits, 0 errors
Superior 1 run, 10 hits, 6 errors

Game 2 is coming up shortly with freshman Colin Grove getting the starting pitching assignment for U-Dub-Dub. I’ll have a full report on today’s twin bill vs. Superior this evening.

Yelowjackets and Warhawks underway in game-one at Miller Stadium

Superior and Whitwater a underway on Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium.

Justn Lambert (see photo) got the start for the Warhawks in the opener of the twinbill on a cool, breezy afternon. Gametime temperature was 44 degrees under partly sunny skies.

Hawks have the early lead - 2 to 1

Warhawks open WIAC season this weekend by hosting UW-Superior

The UW-Whitewater baseball team opens the 2011 WIAC season this weekend (4/2 & 4/3) by hosting UW-Superior for a pair of doubleheaders.

According to Weatherbug.com, expect plenty of sunshine Saturday with the high temperature forecast at 53. It will be breezy with the wind blowing in from left field at 10-15 mph.

Superior (3-6) will be playing its first game since its Arizona spring training tip ended on March 25th.

Eastern Connecticut scored twice in the bottom of the eighth inning, with a sacrifice fly plating the go-ahead run as the Warriors edged the Yellowjackets for the second time in a week, 13-12, in Tucson Arizona.

One thing that we've learned through the first seven games of the season for the Yellowjackets is that they aren't afraid to score runs. With the exception of the first two games against Division I Illinois-Chicago, the Yellowjackets have scored 61 runs, an average of 12.2 runs per-game. Unfortunately, they've also been giving up the runs. In those same five games, they've allowed 51 runs, including double digits three times. I’ll have updates throughout the day and a complete postgame report here on voiceseyeonbaseball.blogspot.com.

WIAC Baseball Schedule This Weekend (4/2 and 4/3)

Saturday, April 2nd (All 12-Noon Starts)
UW-Stout (3-7) @ UW-La Crosse (5-3) (DH)
UW-Oshkosh (9-1) @ UW-Platteville (1-9) (DH)
UW-Superior (3-6) @ UW-Whitewater (9-2) (DH)
(non-conf) St. Norbert @ UW-Stevens Point (DH) * Postponed

Snnday, April 3rd (All 12-Noon Starts)
UW-Stout @ UW-La Crosse (DH)
UW-Oshkosh @ UW-Platteville (DH)
UW-Superior @ UW-Whitewater (DH)

WIAC Standings (as of 4/1)
UW-Oshkosh 0-0 9-1
UW-Stevens Point 0-0 8-2
UW-Whitewater 0-0 7-2
UW-La Crosse 0-0 8-3
UW-Superior 0-0 3-6
UW-Stout 0-0 3-7
UW-Platteville 0-0 1-9