By David Paulsen
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
Behind the solid three-hit pitching of Ben Miller, the Union Grove High School baseball team pulled out a 4-2 victory at home against Luxemburg-Casco Saturday to earn a split in the non-conference doubleheader. Luxemburg-Casco won the opening game 5-3.
In game one, Luxemburg-Casco scored single runs in the first and third innings off Bronco hurler Bart Bohat to take a 2-0 lead. They held that lead until the sixth when Union Grove tied the score with a pair of runs.
Luxemburg-Casco scored three times in the top of the seventh to take a 5-2 lead. Although the Broncos got one of those runs back in the bottom of the seventh, they fell short in the loss.
“Walks hurt us,” head coach Michael Arendt said. “We left a lot of opportunities on the bases. We battled back to tie it up, but then made a couple of mental mistakes that cost us.”
Bohat pitched three innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits. He struck out five and did not walk a batter.
Ryan Maier pitched the final four innings and took the loss. He forfeited three runs (all earned) on three hits (including a homer), walked three and struck out three.
Union Grove out-hit Luxemburg-Casco eight to six, with Adam Filz, Zac Melendrez and Justin DeLong each collecting two. DeLong had a double and scored a run.
All eight of the Bronco hits were singles, and they were unsuccessful in working any walks off the Luxemburg-Casco pitchers.
In the second game, Union Grove grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first, and then added single runs in the fourth and fifth to take a 4-0 lead. Luxemburg-Casco cut that lead in half in the sixth but could get no closer.
Neither team hit the ball well, with the Broncos collecting just four hits to Luxemburg-Casco’s three.
Union Grove did benefit from nine walks in this game.
“We took advantage of some walks early and had to battle through to get the win,” Arendt said. “We got ourselves in trouble with walks later in the game, but were able to work out of it.”
Miller pitched five scoreless innings, giving up just one hit, and no walks, while striking out nine.
Three other Broncos shared the mound duties over the final two innings, giving up two hits, four walks, while striking out three. Those three Broncos were Matt Torres, Connor Fedders and Sam Schaefer.
Offensively, Miller also led the team with two RBIs.
With the split, Union Grove is now 2-3 overall.
The Broncos hosted Wilmot in a doubleheader Tuesday to open Southern Lakes Conference action.
On Wednesday, Union Grove hosted SLC foe Lake Geneva Badger in a game rescheduled from April 11.
The Broncos have five games in the next seven days.
On Saturday, April 20, the Broncos will travel to Niles West (Ill.) for a non-conference doubleheader.
Next week, Union Grove will host Westosha Central on Tuesday, April 23, and then will play at Westosha Central on Thursday, April 25. Both SLC games are scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
On Friday, April 26, they will host Racine Lutheran in a 7 p.m. non-conference game rescheduled from March 27.
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