MEQUON, Wis. - The CUW baseball team continued its home stand on Friday afternoon, sweeping both games against Dominican University in dominant fashion. With the victories, the Falcons improved to 12-7 overall and 4-2 in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) play.
In the opener, the Falcons unleashed an offensive explosion, scoring a season-high 20 runs on 16 hits for a commanding 20-3 victory. This marked the ninth time this season that CUW has scored 10 or more runs. The offense was relentless, with the Falcons scoring in all but one of their six innings.
CUW got on the board early in the first inning with three runs. Freshman Graham Kasten (Mequon, Wis.) started the scoring with a single to center field. Senior Kyle Flynn (Downers Grove, Ill.) followed with a bases-loaded walk, and senior Josh Aguiniga (Chicago, Ill.) drove in a run with a single through the left side.
The Falcons broke the game wide open in the third inning, scoring six runs. Freshman Colyn Lessila (Germantown, Wis.) started the rally with an RBI single up the middle. Two batters later, sophomore Alex Ames (Plymouth, Wis.) singled to center field, adding another run. With the bases loaded, Kasten crushed a grand slam to left-center, giving CUW a 9-1 lead after three innings.
The Falcons continued to pour it on, adding three run in the fourth as Lessila launched a three-run homer to left-center.
In the fifth inning, sophomore Connor Lasch (Chicago, Ill.) drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, and Flynn added another with a single, extending the lead to 14-3.
CUW was not done yet. In the sixth inning, the Falcons tacked on six more runs. Kasten drew a bases-loaded walk for an RBI, and senior Brynden Cleveland (Crestwood, Ill.) followed with a two-RBI single. Lasch capped the inning with a three-run homer to left-center, securing a 20-3 win.
On the mound, senior Zach Slome (Schaumburg, Ill.) earned the win, going six innings and striking out five while facing 29 batters. Senior Chris Rooney (Mundelein, Ill.) finished the game with a perfect inning, needing just seven pitches to retire the side.
The Falcons had a balanced offensive attack, with seven different players recording multiple hits. Kasten went 2-for-3 with a season-high six RBIs and two walks. Lasch and Lessila each drove in four runs, with Lasch adding two hits. As a team, CUW stranded just four runners and recorded two doubles, while Dominican managed only one.
Riding the momentum from game one, the Falcons completed the sweep with an 8-3 victory in game two.
CUW wasted no time taking control, scoring three runs in the first inning. Lasch started the scoring with a solo home run to left field. The Falcons extended their lead in the third, with Lasch hitting his second home run of the game, a solo shot, to make it 4-0.
In the fifth inning, the Falcons added two more runs. Senior Tyler Brandenburg (Saukville, Wis.) doubled to left field, driving in two runs to give CUW a 6-1 lead. The defense remained strong, preventing any significant Dominican threats.
The Falcons put the game away in the eighth inning with some insurance runs. Kasten homered with a runner on to extend the lead to 8-2. The defense closed the door in the ninth, and CUW secured the 8-3 win.
Lasch was the offensive star, hitting two home runs and driving in four runs in his first multi-homer game. Kasten added four hits, including a home run and two RBIs. Cleveland also had four hits, while Ames, Brandenburg, and junior Matt Miller (Fredonia, Wis.) contributed with base hits.
On the mound, sophomore Alex Kuntz (Richfield, Wis.) pitched five solid innings, allowing just three hits and one run while striking out seven to improve to 1-0 on the year. Senior Arthur Liebau (Mequon, Wis.) closed out the game with four strong innings, allowing just one earned run, striking out seven and issuing no walks.
The Falcons will look to continue their strong play when they resume NACC action next Tuesday at Wisconsin Lutheran.
