Win Gives Wildcats 4-0 Season Start

For the second game in a row the University School baseball team scored enough runs against Messmer to end their Midwest Classic Conference North game in just five innings. Tuesday, the Wildcats battered the Bishops 17-6.  The Wildcats won Thursday's game at USM 14-3.

The Bishops briefly had the lead in Thursday’s game, scoring two runs in the top of the first.  Lead off batter Calvin Lawson walked and took second on an error on a pick off attempt.  He scored on a one-out double by Myles Childs. Childs eventually stole third and scored when Korey Sanders grounded out to second.

The Messmer lead, however, was short-lived; USM scored three runs in the bottom of the inning.  With two out Josh Baker singled. He raced to third when Tommy Pennington reached first on a third strike passed ball.  An error on a pick off attempt allowed Baker to score and Pennington to reach second. After Billy Lawton walked, Pennington stole third.  Pennington then scored on a wild pitch, and Lawton went to second.  Nathan Burke lined a sharp single to center, driving in Lawton and giving USM a 3-2 lead.

USM's starting pitcher Patrick Lubar breezed through the top of the second, getting one Bishop batter to ground out while striking out two others.

The Wildcats scored three more runs in the bottom of the second.  With one out Nishad Agrawal walked. He stole second base and then scored when Lane Stanford reached on a two-base error. Jack Wells made it to first on a fielder's choice that put Stanford out at third.  Wells was able to slide into second during the play on Stanford at third.  A passed ball put Wells third, and he scored on a wild pitch.  Baker then walked, stole second, and took third on a wild pitch. After Pennington had walked and stolen second, Baker scored on an error on an attempted pick off play at third. Consequently, USM was ahead 6-2.

Lubar was stingy again in the top of the third.  He retired the Bishops in five pitches.

The Wildcats attached a run to their lead in the third. Duncan Brown singled, stole second and third, and scored on an error.

 The Bishops scored their third run in the fourth.  Raymund Pierce led off with a single.  Sanders singled to send Pierce to second.  The runners advanced on a wild pitch. After Leonard Pacheco walked, Pierce scored on another wild pitch.  USM’s head coach Tim Bartz replaced Lubar with Greg Trinkl.  Despite some tense moments, Trinkl escaped without relinquishing any more runs.

The Wildcats put the game away by scoring seven runs in the bottom of the fourth.  Stanford started it, leading off a walk and a steal of second.  Wells reached on an error.  Baker then doubled to drive in Stanford. Lawson made a perfect throw to the plate to nail Wells.  Pennington hit a hard grounder to left, scoring Baker. Pennington then stole second, went to third on a passed ball and raced home on a wild patch to make the score 10-3. Lawton then walked and Burke and Brown singled to load the bases, setting up the hit of the game. Trinkl lined a shot down the line to the right field fence for a bases-clearing double.  Another passed ball put Trinkl at third and Agrawal's sacrifice fly brought him in.

Trinkl set the Bishops down in order in the top of the fifth and the game was over.

In the game, Lubar was the winner.  He struck out 6 batters in three and a third innings.  Childs was the losing pitcher for Messmer.  At the plate, Trinkl was 1 for 1 with a double and 3 RBIs.  Baker was 3 for 3 with a double and 1 RBI; Brown and Burke were each 2 for 3.  Sanders was 1 for 2 with an RBI to lead the Bishops.

Messmer is now 0-5 overall and 0-2 in the conference.  USM is 4-0 overall and in the conference.  The Wildcats head to Waupun for a tournament Friday.  Their first game is against Edgerton.  It is scheduled for a 7:15 p.m. start.  The Wildcats will play two more games in the tournament on Saturday.