Pam Buzzetta/Student LifeOn a weekend where warmth was the norm, a chilling sense of frustration gripped the WU dugout by Sunday evening, as the ball club struggled against regional opponents Simpson College and Illinois Wesleyan.
Saturday began with a rousing 10-1 victory over the Simpson College Storm. Damien Janet pitched a complete game for the Bears, allowing just one run, scattering four hits, and striking out six.
The Bears scored early, with a pair of RBI doubles by John Farrell and Steve Schmidt and poured it on late with a seven-run sixth inning, highlighted by a 2 RBI double by Kirk Heischmidt. The early runs were scored off Simpson pitcher JD Hews, but the avalanche in the sixth can be attributed to the ineffectiveness of Simpson pitcher Josh August.
After the Bears victory in the front end of the doubleheader, the team seemed more lax in the back end, squaring off against the Illinois Wesleyan Titans. Trevor Young-Hyman started the game for the Bears, but was touched up for five runs, all unearned, in the first frame. Earned or not, the hole was more than the Bears could dig themselves out of, never leading in the contest. A late rally, and 11 base hits, were not even enough to catch up. The Titans drew a number of walks, and they certainly took advantage, losing the hit-war, while stilling winning the game.
On Sunday, the sweet taste of victory over Simpson forged Saturday was soured by a disappointing 7-4 defeat. Lou Hutt worked the entire game for the Bears, but was roughed up late. Through five innings, the Bears led 3-1 and all seemed right for another victory, but two doubles sandwiching a home run by catcher Jon Clanton put the Bears away. Any hopes of a comeback were dashed when the Storm tacked on two additional runs in the top of the seventh.
Sunday’s late-afternoon contest was a chance for the Bears to not only avenge the earlier defeat, but also split the games with the Illinois Wesleyan Titans. Disappointed after a 10-7 loss the previous day, the Bears made a valiant effort to get even with the Titans but fell short by a mark of 11-8. Walks plagued the Bears once more, as they handed out eight while striking out seven.
Early deficits were the norm yet again, as the Bears were down 3-0 before they came to bat, and 10-3 before the third inning came to a close. Freshman pitcher Chris Lange took most of the shellacking, allowing eight runs over four innings, after relieving starter Adam Cowley.
However, both Lange and Cowley were victimized by the Bears’ defense, which committed five errors, preventing either pitcher to work out of a jam. The Bears made it interesting posting five runs late, but again fell short.
Referring the Sunday’s defeat against the Titans, Lange said, “It’s never easy when you have your number-one guy [Cowley] hurt, so I had to relieve him in the second inning. I am a natural-born closer and couldn’t get anyone out. He’s got a hurt, rough elbow.”
Cowley is not the only ailing arm on the Bears’ staff after this weekend. Having played twelve games in just over one week, the Bears will take it light this week. The string of games has taken its toll on the Bears, evident in the three defeats suffered at the hands of traditional rivals.
“Our defense just broke down, and, after all these games, everyone is sore,” Lange said. “Our pitcher/shortstop Steve Schmidt has taken the brunt of it, having played two key positions in the 12 games.”
Schmidt, Lange, Cowley and the rest of the squad will work on fundamentals this week, but cool down after a tiresome stretch and be well-rested for another weekend of doubleheaders against Fontbonne and Wisconsin-Platteville.