LA CROSSE, Wis. (naccsports.org) --- After surviving elimination with a 12-4 win over Bethel (Minn.) University earlier in the day, Benedictine University saw its 2024 season draw to a close with an 18-15 loss to regional host UW-La Crosse Saturday evening in a 2024 NCAA Division III Baseball Regional at Copeland Park.
UW-La Crosse 18, Benedictine 15
Benedictine spotted regional host UW-La Crosse nine runs in the first inning but rallied to bring the would-be tying run to the plate in the ninth inning before UWL was able to close out an 18-15 win and bring BenU's season to a close.
Ryan Doubek led off the game with a single, stole second and eventually reached third before being stranded in Benedictine's opening at-bats.
UW-La Crosse took advantage of a rough start by Benedictine starting pitcher Nick Kosmetatos, who was chased after facing just five batters after issuing a bases-loaded walk, and allowing a sacrifice fly and a two-run single which gave UWL a 4-0 lead. La Crosse plated five more runs in the frame - one n a run-scoring error and four on a grand slam by Nate Witte - to lead 9-0.
Benedictine got on the board in the top of the third inning with a two-run single by Kevin Bushnell. That was countered by a three-run home run by UWL's George Seaman in the bottom half of the inning.
After a rare scoreless fourth inning, BenU put up five runs in the fifth. Anthony Lenza scored on an RBI single by Logan Gregorio, while Brennan Fisher followed with an RBI single of his own and DeShawnte Carraway drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 12-5. The final two BenU runs came when David Rubin reached on a fielder's choice with the bases loaded.
UWL scored three in the bottom of the fifth to extend their lead to 15-7, but BenU continued to apply pressure. In the sixth, Benedictine plated four in total - one on another RBI single from Bushnell, a second when George Betevis reached on catcher's interference with the bases loaded, and two more on a two-run single by David Rubin.
La Crosse hit solo home runs in the sixth and seventh innings to counter a two-run Brennan Fisher blast in the seventh inning to keep the margin at four runs headed into the eighth. In the eighth, BenU's Justin Nonnenmann and Lenza drew back-to-back two-out walks but were stranded as Doubek grounded out the third base to end the inning.
UWL was able to capitalize on BenU's scoreless frame with an RBI single from Chris VandenHeuvel to give the hosts an 18-13 lead. Benedictine was able to prevent any further damage by turning an inning-ending double play.
BenU was able to get the most out of its final at-bats as the first four batters reached on base hits. Gregorio singled through the left side to lead off the inning, then moved to third on a Bushnell double to left-center. Fisher followed with a two-run single to right-center to cut the UWL advantage to 18-15 and force a pitching change. Carraway reached on a single through the left side off new UWL pitcher Tucker Bouche. After a strikeout, Rubin reached on a fielder's choice which retired Carraway at second base and left runners on the corners for Nonnenmann. The Benedictine rally was cut short, however, as Bouche struck out Nonnenmann to end the game.
Fisher finished 3-for-6 with a home run, five RBIs and two runs scored. Bushnell added a 3-for-5 effort with a double, three RBIs, and three runs scored, while Gregorio was 3-for-5 with a double and four runs scored. Rubin was just 1-for-6 overall but drove in three.
Seaman led UW-La Crosse offensively, going 3-for-4 with a home run, five RBIs, and three runs scored.
Both teams used four pitchers. Kosmetatos took the loss for Benedictine after his first-inning troubles. UWL starting pitcher Owen Anderson pitched 5-2/3 innings, allowing 11 runs (eight earned) on eight hits and five walks while striking out eight. Bouche was credited with the save after coming in to shut Benedictine down in the ninth.
Benedictine 12, Bethel (Minn.) 4
Benedictine crushed a total of four home runs in support of starting pitcher Jackson Bahn as the Eagles avoided elimination with a 12-4 win over Bethel (Minn.) to open play Saturday.
The Royals struck first, plating the game's first run in the bottom fo the first inning as Xavier Lortie scored Carson Christiansen on an RBI double to right field.
Benedictine grabbed the lead with four runs in the top of the third inning. Anthony Lenza drew a leadoff walk and scored on a two-run home run by Logan Gregorio. Kevin Bushnell followed with a solo shot to left one batter later, and the fourth run of the inning came as David Rubin scored Brennan Fisher from second on an RBI single to right field.
The Eagles tacked on three more runs in the fourth as Bushnell rapped a RBI double to right center, then scored when Fisher blasted a homer to right one batter later.
Bethel trimmed the lead to three runs with a trio of runs of their own in the bottom of the frame. Lortie drew a leadoff walk, then scored on a two-run homer to left by Ty Koehn. The next batter, Nolan Juergensen, followed with a solo shot to right field to make it 7-4 in favor of Benedictine.
The Royals had opportunities in both the sixth and seventh innings as the leadoff hitter in both frames reached base, but Bethel ended up hitting into inning-ending double plays on both occasions.
Benedictine received some insurance in the final two innings as Bushnell scored on a Fisher RBI single in the eighth and Gregorio blasted a grand slam to left center in the ninth.
The Eagles finished with 18 hits compared to the Royals' seven. Bushnell was 5-for-6 with two doubles, a home run, two RBIs and three runs scored, Fisher finished 4-for-6 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored, and Gregorio was 2-for-6 with a pair of home runs and six RBIs.
Jackson Bahn allowed four runs (all earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out seven. Dan Dombrowski (1 IP) and Austin Pizer (3 IP) combined to throw four innings of scoreless relief, allowing just two hits and two walks.
Bethel was led by Jurgenson, who finished 2-for-3 with a home run.