La Crosse, Wis. – Junior Blake Shepherd (Mindoro, Wis.) hit two homeruns to help Viterbo University earn a non-conference split with UW-Stout today in their final home game of the season. UW-Stout won game one 7-4 while Viterbo won game two 8-6.

In the first game, UW-Stout got on the scoreboard first as they scored three runs on three hits in the second inning. They added two more runs in the fifth on a two-run homerun by Jon Schoch. The V-Hawks would get two runs back in the bottom half of the fifth on a two run shot by Shepherd. The Blue Devils then added two insurance runs in the top of the sixth to make the score 7-2. Viterbo would put a scare to UW-Stout as Jeff Clabots (Jr. – Brooklyn Park, Minn.) opened the seventh with a single. Freshman Taylor Reinhardt (Medford, Wis.) then hit his first homerun of his V-Hawk career to pull the V-Hawks within 7-4. Kahtan Al-Kaissy (Sr. – Hopkins, Minn.) then singled and Mark Bellatti (Sr. – San Diego, Calif.) walked. But UW-Stout reliever Andrew Driessen induced a tailor made double play to end the game.

Reinhardt (0-6) started the game for the V-Hawks and went the distance as he allowed seven runs on ten hits while striking out six. Cory Hedeen (4-4) picked up the win for the Blue Devils as he went six 1/3 innings giving up four runs on eight hits. Driessen picked up the save for UW-Stout. Reinhardt and Shepherd each finished 1-4 with a run scored and two RBI's while Joey Bergles (Sr. – Geneseo, Ill.) was 2-4.

In game two, the V-Hawks jumped on the Blue Devils right away and built a 5-0 lead after three innings. Spencer Williams (Jr. – Sacramento, Calif.) opened the game by walking, stole second and reached third on a throwing error. He would then score on a sacrifice fly by Andrew Stoffel (Sr. – Woodbury, Minn.). Al-Kaissy would then score in the second inning on a sacrifice bunt by Justin Carpenter (Jr. – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada). Shepherd would then hit his second homerun of the day in the third with two runners on to give Viterbo a 5-0 lead.

The Blue Devils would then close within 5-3 as they scored three runs on three hits in the fourth inning. Viterbo would stretch their lead back to 8-3 as they scored three runs in the sixth highlighted by an RBI single by Brady Clarke (So. – Greenwood, Ind.). UW-Stout would not go down easy though as they made things interesting in the seventh. After a walk and a single , Brett Vavra hit a three run homerun to pull the Blue Devils within 8-6. But relief pitcher, Bellatti, would get the next two batters to strike out and earn his second save of the season.

Redshirt sophomore Cole Clements (Readstown, Wis.) started on the mound for the V-Hawks and picked up his first win of the season. Clement's (1-5) allowed three runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings of work. Carter Vogt (3-2) suffered the loss for the Blue Devils as he came on in relief and gave up three runs on two hits in 3 1/3 innings of work. Shepherd once again led the V-Hawk offense as he was 2-3 with three RBI's and two runs scored. Reinhardt and Clark also added two hits apiece.

The doubleheader split moves Viterbo to 10-31 overall while UW-Stout is now 17-19 overall. Viterbo will finish up the 2012 season on May 7^th when they travel to Winona, Minn. to play Winona State University.