MEQUON, Wis. – The Concordia University Wisconsin baseball team rallied from behind in both games of a doubleheader against Benedictine on Saturday to complete a series sweep at home. The sweep marks CUW's first over the Eagles since 2018 and evens the all-time series at 22-22. The Falcons improve to 14-14 overall and 10-4 in conference play.
 
GAME 1 | Concordia Wisconsin 5, Benedictine 4 (10 innings)
Benedictine held CUW scoreless through the first seven innings while building a 4-0 lead, but the Falcons erupted in the eighth to force extra innings.
 
Senior Matt Miller (Fredonia, Wis.) opened the frame with a single, and the Falcons later loaded the bases with one out after a walk from junior Alex Ames (Plymouth, Wis.) and a single by sophomore Graham Kasten (Mequon, Wis.). Junior Connor Lasch (Chicago, Ill.) delivered a two-RBI single to center to cut into the deficit. Back-to-back walks by freshman Dylan Hein (Dyer, Ind.) and junior Luke Heinkel (Brookfield, Wis.) brought in another run, and freshman Joe Landgraf (Hartford, Wis.) followed with a sacrifice groundout to tie the game at 4-4.
 
After a scoreless ninth, the Falcons turned a key double play in the top of the 10th to keep the game tied. In the bottom half, freshman Jack Anzelmo (Appleton, Wis.) led off as a pinch hitter and blasted a walk-off home run on the fourth pitch to secure the win.
 
CUW totaled nine hits in the opener, with Miller, Kasten, and junior Jason Valdez (Glendale Heights, Ill.) each recording two. Kasten added a double, while Miller swiped a base.
 
Senior Nick Barksdale (Walnut Creek, Calif.) started and tossed six innings. Freshman Ben Peterson (Minocqua, Wis.) provided relief, allowing just one hit, before senior Tyler Bartczak (Crestwood, Ill.) closed the final two innings without allowing a hit to earn his first win of the season.
 
GAME 2 | Concordia Wisconsin 6, Benedictine 5
The Eagles struck first with two runs in the opening inning, but CUW answered with single runs in the second and third to stay within striking distance. Benedictine regained the lead in the fourth and extended it to 5-2 by the seventh inning stretch.
 
The Falcons mounted another comeback in the bottom of the seventh. Hein led off with a home run, and three consecutive singles from Landgraf, Miller, and freshman Cameron Bueno (Milwaukee, Wis.) loaded the bases. Valdez drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, and freshman Mick Wagner (Crown Point, Ind.) followed with an RBI single to tie the game at 5-5.
 
After holding Benedictine scoreless in the eighth and ninth, CUW completed the sweep in dramatic fashion. Three singles loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth, and Lasch delivered again with a walk-off single on the second pitch.
 
The Falcons recorded 11 hits in game two, with Wagner, Lasch, and Miller each collecting two. Wagner, Lasch, and Miller also added stolen bases.
 
Freshman Easton Oliver (West Bend, Wis.) started and pitched 6.2 innings with three strikeouts. Freshman Russell Roodenburg (Scottsdale, Ariz.) closed the final 2.2 innings, allowing just one hit while striking out one to earn the win and improve to 3-2.
 
CUW travels to Verona, Wisconsin, on Tuesday to face Edgewood in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.