Two Walkoff Wins Complete Wild St. Norbert Sweep of Ripon

From Sports Information Director, May 5, 2012 | Baseball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

DE PERE - St. Norbert College battled its way to a pair of one-run wins to sweep a Midwest Conference doubleheader by scores of 3-2 and 5-4 over archrival Ripon College at Mel Nicks Field.

The Green Knights (21-10, 12-2 MWC) got a two-out base hit from Nick Pierre to win the opener, while Alex Larsen's single up the middle earned the win in the nightcap.

St. Norbert looked dead in the water in game two, not scoring after a first-inning run as Ripon (17-17, 7-7 MWC) built a 4-1 lead. Carlos Rodriguez was hit by the first pitch of the ninth inning by Patrick Van Daalwyk, and Jordan Powers walked on five pitches. Ripon coach Bob Gillespie - who was honored prior to the doubleheader by St. Norbert in making his last appearance here - summoned closer Marshall Zahn.

Zahn coaxed Matt Hannon into a foul-out, but Travis Mason followed with a single to load the bases. Garrick Fisher then hammered a bases-clearing double off the fence in left center to knot the game at 4-4. Following a groundout, Alex Larsen's ball up the middle was more than enough to get Fisher home and cap off a wild comeback.

Fisher finished the game 3-for-5 with three doubles and three RBIs. Hannon was 3-for-5, while Powers and Mason were both 2-for-4. Josh Honzik got the win for the Green Knights, allowing seven hits with one walk and five strikeouts in a complete-game effort.

St. Norbert crept out to a 2-0 lead in the opener with single runs in the third and fourth innings. A Fisher double put the Green Knights ahead 1-0, while Pierre's double made it 2-0. Ripon answered with two runs in the sixth inning on doubles by Adam Grambow and Dave McFarland.

Chad Ljunggren singled with one out in the ninth and advanced to second on a passed ball. Following a strikeout, Pierre's smash to right plated Ljunggren.

Ljunggren and Pierre were both 3-for-4, while Fisher was 2-for-4. Nathan Schadrie moved to 4-0 with 2/3 innings of relief, including getting a huge double play ball with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth to end the inning. Kevin Nutley started for St. Norbert and allowing 10 hits with four walks and five strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings.