TUCSON, AZ. – The Wesleyan baseball team competed in a high scoring double-header against the Auggies of Augsburg Wednesday afternoon. The Cardinals fell in game one 16-5, before coming back with a decisive 14-4 victory. In game one, Augsburg used an eight-run second inning to stretch their lead to 12-1 in the top of the 2^nd. Wesleyan came back with three runs in the bottom half, but the Auggies were able to hang out to the lead the rest of the way. In game two, the Cardinals got out to a three-run advantage in the 1^st inning, but the Auggies came back to take the lead 4-3 in the bottom of the 4^th. Wesleyan closed it out with 11 runs over the final three innings, including six in the 7^th, to put away Augsburg 14-4. Augsburg moves to 3-6 with the split, while the Cardinals advance back above .500 at 3-2.

GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS (Loss 16-5):

• There was scoring early and often in this one, with the Auggies striking first in the top of the 1^st . The Cardinals managed two quick outs to open the game, but then Augsburg got going eventually scoring four runs on four hits and a few costly Wesleyan errors to take a 4-0 opening half-inning advantage. After a pair of walks in the bottom half, Kyle Sylvester '22 delivered a one-out single and the bases were loaded with one out. The Cards were only able to push one across however, with Ricky Finkel '23 lifting a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Matt Halas '24
• After a quick out to open the top of the 2^nd, the Auggies offense got going again. Augsburg finished the half inning with eight runs on six hits to go along with a few walks and errors to take a commanding 12-1 advantage. The big hits of the half inning Adam Marshall and Clint Mattson who each ripped RBI-doubles
•  Wesleyan once again attempted to respond in the bottom half of the inning, and came through with three runs to cut into the deficit at 12-4. After a leadoff strikeout, Tyler Cosgrove '25 hit a triple to right field that started a miniature rally for the Cards. The triple was followed by a Jack Nally '24 RBI-single for the second run of the game. After a walk and hit by pitch, Luke LaSaracina '25 got into the action with a RBI base knock to make it 12-3. Sylvester hit another in on a sac fly, but the Auggies were able to stop the bleeding there and get out with two Cards still on base
• Over the next four innings of play the Auggies pitchers held the Cardinals to only one total hit. During this time they added two more runs of their own in the 4^th inning to make it 14-4 heading into the final frame. Mattson came up big again, driving in their 15^th run on a single in the top of the 7^th. They would add one more a few batters later, and it would be 16-4 going into the bottom half. Wesleyan managed to put together a few hits with Ernie Little '26 proving an RBI-single, but that would be it as the Cards fell 16-5

NOTES:

• Augsburg's 20 hits is the most that the Cardinals have given up since 2016 when they gave up 21 to Hamline University. Wesleyan finished with eight hits
• Five different Cardinals drove in a run, with LaSaracina (2-for-2, 1 RBI, 1 BB) being the only Card with multiple hits
• The Cardinals used six pitchers on the day, Mario Lee '25 (1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER)  made his season debut with a solid innings in relief

GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS (Win 14-4)

• In game two of the double-header, it was the Cardinals who got off to a quick start. Christian Boudreau '25 led off with a single followed by a walk. A double play following the two men on didn't discourage the Cards, as Connor Sullivan '26 came through with a two-run single and the Cardinals took a 3-0 1^st-inning lead. Eddie Zanor '23 put the Auggies down 1-2-3 in the bottom half
• Zanor was rolling through two innings, before two walks and a fielder choice led to two Auggies' runs in the bottom of the 3^rd to make it 3-2. They continued their offensive attack in the 4^th, adding two more runs on two hits and Augburg had their first lead of the contest at 4-3 going into the 5^th inning
• The Cards found their offense again in the 5^th, taking back the lead with a barrage of hits that ended up driving in five runs. Sylvester drove in the tying run a few batters in with an RBI-single to left field. Dylan Judd '22 came in and ripped a pinch-hit 3-run triple to clear the bases and give Wesleyan a 7-4 advantage. The final run of the inning came by virtue of Jimmy Clifford '23, who drove in Judd with a single to center field to make it 8-4 Wesleyan
• Alex Deutsch '25 came in relief of Zanor and was sensational through the final 3 2/3^rd innings, holding the Auggies without a run. The Cardinals added six more runs over that period, all coming in the final frame to down Augsburg, 14-4 in game number two

NOTES:

• Deutsch (3.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 K's) came in and closed out the final 3 and 2/3rds innings for the Cardinals in his second appearance of the season
• LaSaracina (1-for-5, 1 R, 3 RBIs) and Judd (1-for-1, 1 R, 4 RBIs) were the big RBI guys for the Cardinals in the game, with Judd tying a career-high with four RBI
• Wesleyan finished with 12 hits, compared to six for the Auggies

 
UP NEXT:
Wesleyan will continue their spring break trip with a rare one-game day tomorrow March 16^th against Macalester at 4:30 pm.