Losses to Riverdale and Darlington last week left the Southwestern varsity baseball team with a Southwest Wisconsin Activities League record of 2-8 heading into their last three games of the regular season.

Following this past Tuesday night’s contest at Cuba City, the Wildcats will host Mineral Point (6-3, 7-3) on Friday, then travel to Fennimore (7-3, 8-3) next Tuesday.

Against visiting Riverdale last Friday evening, coach Nick Budden’s squad nearly pulled off the upset over the league-leading Chieftains.

The Wildcats finished the game with 11 hits, and got a perfect 4-for-4 performance from senior Aaron Tranel, who had a home run in the loss.

Max Hinderman went 2-for-4 at the plate and had a double, as did Logan Splinter.

Coach Budden’s squad held a 6-4 lead going into the seventh inning, but gave up four runs to the Chieftains in the seventh, and managed only one in their half.

Senior hurler Ben Kuhle was given the loss on the mound, giving up eight earned runs off eight hits in seven innings of work. In that time he struck out six batters and walked eight.

The very next day, Southwester took the field against Darlington, who left Hazel Green with a 16-12 victory and SWAL record of 5-5.

Of Southwestern’s 10 hits, Tanner Jansen, Aaron Tranel and Logan Hoppman each had two, Tranel a tripe, and Hoppman a home run.

In four innings of action on the hill, Max Hinderman was given the loss after giving up eight earned runs off seven hits, while striking out three batters and walking nine.

Bailey Fellenzer pitched three innings, in which time he gave up four earned runs off five hits, striking out three batters and walking none.

Riverdale 8,
Southwestern 7
(from Friday, May 10)
Riverdale    001    102    4 - 8    8    1
Southwestern    202    200    1 - 7    11    1
Leading hitters - R: Lewis 2x2; SW: Hinderman 2x4, Tranel 4x4. 2B - Lewis (R), Mayer (R), Hinderman (SW), Splinter (SW). HR - Lewis (R), Tranel (SW). W - Meister (7IN, 11H, 5ER, 1BB, 8K). L - Kuhle (7IN, 8H, 8ER, 8BB, 6K).

Darlington 16,
Southwestern 12
(from Saturday, May 11)
Darlington    104    420    5 - 16    12    1
Southwestern    203    060    1 - 12    10    2
Leading hitters - D: Singer 2x6, Heinburg 3x5, Nate Fleming 2x4; SW: Tanner Jansen 2x5, Aaron Tranel 2x5, Logan Hoppman 2x4. 2B - Jansen (D), Splinter (D). 3B - Fleming (D), Tranel (SW). HR - Singer (D), Hoppman (SW). W - Heinburg (2.2IN, 3H, 1ER, 2BB, 4K). L - Max Hinderman (4IN, 7H, 8ER, 9BB, 3K). Other pitchers - D: Geissbuhler (4.1IN, 7H, 10ER, 3BB, 7K); SW: Bailey Fellenzer (3IN, 5H, 4ER, 0BB, 3K).