KENOSHA, Wisc. — Bellarmine University senior left-hander
Austin Warner fired a complete-game shutout in the Knights' 6-0 win over Wisconsin-Parkside in Monday's opener at neutral-site Carthage College, but the Rangers scored twice in the final inning to gain a 2-1 win in the tail end in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.
The games were shifted to Carthage in Wisconsin due to the effects of storms on UWP's field. The series was limited to two games instead of the customary four. The Knights moved to 21-23 overall and 12-10 in GLVC play. The Rangers moved to 9-29 and 4-18.
In the 9.0-inning opener, Warner (3-3) allowed five hits while striking out six and walking none in his first shutout of the season. The southpaw retired 11 straight batters in a stretch from the third through the sixth innings. He retired the side in order in the second, fourth, fifth, seventh and ninth innings while notching his second complete game. Warner lowered his ERA to 3.06 and allowed two earned runs or less for the fourth time in his last five starts.
Bellarmine posted all six of its runs in the first three innings, plating two in the first and four in the third. Senior center fielder
Jes Staples led off with a single and scored on sophomore left fielder
Griffin Neuer's RBI triple to right center. Neuer came home on senior third baseman
Cole Metcalfe's sacrifice fly.
Bellarmine's four runs in the third all came with two outs. Junior first baseman
Nick Wright extended the inning with a single, sophomore designated hitter
Brady Pfaadt walked and sophomore shortstop
Drew Greenwood delivered an RBI double. Junior catcher
Christopher Allen followed with a two-run double to left center, and freshman right fielder
Alex Phillips dropped down an RBI bunt single for a 6-0 lead.
Staples led Bellarmine's 12-hit attack in the first game with a 3-for-5 outing. Wright, Greenwood and Phillips added two hits apiece.
In the second contest, sophomore left-hander
Hunter Spencer was three outs away from recording a second shutout for Bellarmine, which led 1-0 heading into the seventh and final inning. However, the Rangers Jake Kolasinski drew a leadoff walk after fouling off five consecutive pitches on a 3-2 count and DJ Peltz followed with a double.
Junior left-hander
Michael Messier entered to pitch for Bellarmine, but UWP continued its rally as Trent Muscat delivered a go-ahead, two-run single. Tyler Jandron gained the complete-game win for the Rangers.
Staples collected two of Bellarmine's four hits in the second game. Wright had an RBI single in the first.
Bellarmine finishes the regular season with Saturday and Sunday doubleheaders at Lewis. First pitch is at 1 p.m. (ET) both days.
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GAME 1 BOX SCORE (HTM)
GAME 2 BOX SCORE (HTM)