MEQUON, Wis. - The Concordia University Wisconsin baseball team wrapped up its 2025 season with a 20–20 overall record and a 12–12 mark in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) play, securing a spot in the NACC Tournament for the second consecutive year. The campaign was marked by record-breaking performances, standout rookie contributions, and the steady presence of veteran leadership, culminating in a season filled with memorable moments and growth.
The Falcons opened the year with a statement, shutting out Carroll 7–0 behind a dominant outing from senior Zach Slome (Schaumburg, Ill.) and a grand slam from freshman Graham Kasten (Mequon, Wis.), who drove in six runs in a dazzling collegiate debut. That early momentum carried into the team's spring break trip, where CUW competed at the Tucson Invitational and posted explosive offensive numbers. Sophomore Alex Kuntz (Richfield, Wis.) struck out a program record 14 batters in a win over Bethany Lutheran, while junior Brynden Cleveland (Crestwood, Ill.) launched three home runs in a single game against Gustavus Adolphus, the first player in program history to do so.
The Falcons picked up a pair of thrilling walk-off victories in Arizona, edging Bethany Lutheran 15–14 and Linfield 11–10. Sophomore Alex Ames (Plymouth, Wis.) earned NACC Position Player of the Week honors after going 5 for 5 with six RBIs in the Linfield win, and freshman Colyn Lessila (Germantown, Wis.) delivered a 4 for 4, 6 RBI breakout in a 16–15 triumph over Saint John's.
CUW continued its hot stretch at the Pensacola Challenge, earning victories over Grinnell, LeTourneau, and UW Stout. Kasten, Cleveland, and Ames continued to pace the offense, while Slome and freshman Brady Coons provided crucial innings on the mound.
Conference play opened with a 10–1 victory at Benedictine, powered by a 10-strikeout gem from Slome. The Falcons followed with a 17–1 rout of Lakeland and a sweep of Dominican, which included multi-homer efforts from Kasten and sophomore Connor Lasch (Chicago, Ill.) and a six RBI day for Kasten. Despite setbacks against Wisconsin Lutheran and Rockford, Kasten earned national recognition as the NCBWA Co-National Rookie of the Week and a spot on the D3baseball.com Team of the Week, thanks to a four-game stretch with 10 hits, 10 RBIs, and multiple home runs.
A pivotal two-game sweep of Aurora rekindled CUW's postseason hopes. Slome fired a complete game shutout in the opener, and a walk-off single from Kasten capped a 5–4 win in game two. The Falcons kept their playoff chances alive with series splits against Marian and MSOE, receiving key contributions from veterans Kyle Flynn (Downers Grove, Ill.), Josh Aguiniga (Chicago, Ill.), and Cleveland.
Senior Day brought a dominant doubleheader sweep of Illinois Tech, as Kasten, Lasch, and sophomore Owen Brandenburg (Slinger, Wis.) drove in multiple runs. Pitchers Jack Hribernik and Owen Burns (Wauwatosa, Wis.) combined to limit the Scarlet Hawks to just four total runs across both games.
In the regular season finale, CUW clinched its postseason berth with a road doubleheader split at Concordia Chicago. Game one featured a clutch three-hit day from freshman Max Heinkel (Downers Grove, Ill.) and a go-ahead double from Kasten in the eighth to seal a 9–7 victory.
The season came to a close in the opening round of the NACC Tournament, as CUW fell 2–0 to Marian despite a gritty 7.1 inning performance from Slome and a two-hit night from Lasch.
Five Falcons earned postseason conference honors for their efforts. Kuntz was named First Team All-NACC after tying the program's single-season strikeout record with 83 and finishing with a 2.40 ERA. Lasch was a Second Team selection, hitting .357 with five home runs and 30 RBIs. Slome received Honorable Mention for the second year in a row, finishing with five wins and becoming only the second pitcher in program history to surpass 200 career strikeouts. Kasten also earned Honorable Mention and was voted NACC Freshman of the Year after leading the team in hits, home runs, and RBIs. Kuntz added to his résumé by becoming CUW's first All-Region honoree since 2021, earning Second Team accolades from both the ABCA and D3baseball.com.
With a strong nucleus returning in 2026, the Falcons will look to build on the foundation laid this spring, a season that reflected the program's growth, resilience, and pursuit of excellence.
