LANCASTER – The Flying Arrow baseball team got off to a great start in Southwest Wisconsin Conference play with a 4-1 victory over visiting Platteville last Tuesday night.
Coach Rick Place’s squad used six hits to score four earned runs, , while giving up one earned run off five hits to the Hillmen.
Lancaster opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when sophomore Dawson Bowen drew a bases-loaded walk to score senior pitcher Noah Hromadka, and senior John Wagner laced an RBI single to score junior Cole Zenz, who reached base on a single.
The Arrows then added another run to their lead in the third when Bowen picked up his second RBI, this time on a fielder’s choice to score Zenz.
Platteville’s only run came in the top of the fourth when Jacob Niehaus scored on a sacrifice fly hit by Coleman Brecke, as the Hillmen left just four runners on base in seven innings.
Lancaster added another run in the bottom of the fifth, where senior Jordan Reuter led off with a triple, and eventually scored on a fielder’s choice hit by Zenz.
On the night, senior Evan Straka led Lancaster at the plate, going 2-for-2, while Bowen had a team-high two RBIs.
Hromadka pitched all seven innings for the Arrows to collect the win, giving up one earned run off five hits, while striking out five batters and walking one.
Ben Pluemer took the loss for Platteville, giving up three earned runs off four hits in three innings of work, while striking out two batters and walking two.
On the following Thursday night, Lancaster hosted Viroqua, who left town with a 4-3 non-conference victory, leaving Lancaster with an overall record of 1-1.
The Arrows took a 2-0 lead after the second inning, where they drew five walks, which allowed Zenz and Bowen to each cross the plate.
Viroqua tied the game at 2-2 with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth, but Lancaster answered with one run in the bottom of the fifth when Zenz reached base on a hit and crossed the plate on a Viroqua error.
Clinging to a 3-2 lead after six inning, the Arrows then gave up two runs in the top of the seventh, one on a hit, and the other on an error.
Lancaster did have the tying runner on third base in the bottom of the seventh, but was picked off for the third out to end the game.
Of Lancaster’s four hits, Zenz went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while sophomore Isaiah Place and junior Cole Kreul each had RBIs on walks.
Kreul took the loss on the mound, giving up two runs, one earned, off three hits in 3.1 innings of work. He also struck out four batters and walked two.
Evan Straka pitched 3.2 innings, in which time he allowed two earned runs off three hits, striking out one batter and walking three.
This Thursday evening the Flying Arrows are scheduled to host Southwestern (0-1, 1-2), and on Saturday are scheduled to host East Dubuque at 11 a.m.
This past Tuesday night’s road game at Prairie du Chien, was postponed and rescheduled for Thursday, May 10.
Lancaster 4, Platteville 1
(from Tuesday, April 10)
Platteville 000 100 0 - 1 5 1
Lancaster 201 010 x - 4 6 0
Leading hitters - P: None; L: Evan Straka 2x2. 2B - P: Coleman Brecke 1. 3B - L: Jordan Reuter 1. W - Noah Hromadka (7IN,5H,1ER,5K,1BB). L - Ben Pluemer (3IN,4H,3ER,2K,2BB). Other pitchers - P: Garret Heer (3IN,2H,1ER,6K,0BB).
Viroqua 4, Lancaster 3
(from Thursday, April 12)
Viroqua 000 200 2 - 4 6 1
Lancaster 020 010 0 - 3 4 2
Leading hitters - V: Andrew Wedwick 2x4; L: Cole Zenz 2x3. 2B - V: Mason Skrede 1. W - Hunter Vikmyr (2IN,0H,0ER,4K,1BB). L - Cole Kreul (3.1IN,3H,2ER,4K,2BB). Other pitchers - V: Andrew Wedwick (1.2IN,0H,2ER,4K,5BB), Andy Bomkamp (3.1IN,4H,0ER,3K,1BB); L: Evan Straka (3.2IN,3H,2ER,1K,3BB).
