Lauersdorf and Adank Lead UW-L to Win over Viterbo

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, April 28, 2009

La Crosse, Wis. – UW-La Crosse's Zach Lauersdorf pitched 6.2 innings of no-hit ball Tuesday night in the Eagles' 4-1 victory over city-rival Viterbo University in the Wells Fargo Copeland Cup. Lauersdorf was perfect through the first five innings before the V-Hawks' Justin Daniels was hit-by-pitch to lead off the sixth.

Lauersdorf improved to 2-1 on the season as he went 8.0 innings, allowing three hits, one run and one walk while striking out five. UW-L has had four no-hitters in school history, the last coming by Jared Manske versus Winona State April 11, 2000. Arnie Wilhelm (1941), Jesse McComb (1955) and Ron Joten (1974) have the other no-hitters in UW-L history.

Viterbo got the first two batters on base in the ninth inning as Lauersdorf walked John Pogatchnik and Kyle Dreger doubled to put runners on second and third. Levi Adank then came in to pitch for UW-L, striking out Eric Gruhlke before walking Nick Lenzendorf. The V-Hawks' Eli Tupuola then lined into a double play to the Eagles' Lance Poppy at first base to end the game, doubling off Lenzendorf. Adank earned his fourth save of the season, pitching 1.0 inning with one walk and one strikeout.

UW-L, which improved to 18-15 overall, now lead the Wells Fargo Copeland Cup, 4-2. The Eagles lead the all-time series, 19-16, with the V-Hawks. Viterbo fell to 27-19 with Tuesday's loss.

The Eagles took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Travis Kerr scored on a Jay Fanta groundout and Storm Gram made it 2-0 scoring on a balk by the V-Hawks' Luke Penovich. Viterbo cut the lead to the 2-1 in the top of the sixth without the benefit of a hit. Daniels was hit-by-pitch to open the inning and moved to second on a passed ball. Shane Michiels then sacrificed Daniels to third on Bobby Raasch knocked him in on a groundout.

UW-L answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth without a hit. Poppy walked to lead off the inning and was forced out at second on Tyler Peterson's sacrifice attempt. Josh Weber and Joey Casper then walked to load the bases and Peterson scored on a Howard Heinrich wild pitch. Travis Kerr then walked to load the bases again and Weber scored on Heinrich's second wild pitch of the inning.

Poppy finished 2-for-3 at the plate for the Eagles while Gram and Fanta each had one hit.

Penovich (3-1) took the loss for Viterbo, pitching 5.1 innings, allowing three hits, four runs and five walks while striking out one. Dreger, Lenzendorf and Daniels each had a hit for the V-Hawks.

UW-L returns to action Thursday, April 30 hosting St. Olaf College (Minn.) in a pair of seven-inning games starting at 2:30 p.m. at North Campus Field.