V-Hawks Claim Pair of Non-Conference Wins

LA CROSSE, Wis. -- The V-Hawks hosted the Sabercats of Maranatha Baptist on Tuesday afternoon for their final home double-header of the 2025-26 season. The V-Hawks came away with a pair of victories over the Sabercats. With the wins, the V-Hawks improve to 10-31 on the season. 

GAME ONE (VU 8, MB 4)

The V-Hawks started the first game by holding off the Sabercats for three innings. In the fourth, the V-Hawks struck first, scoring four runs in the inning. Hunter Hess singled to run in Ryan Mesa, Dane Mediger ran in Jaden Vanderwiere and Eli Tucker, and Jake Ulbert brought in Hunter Hess. In the fifth, the V-Hawks picked up another run on an Ashton Duvall single to bring in Eli Tucker. The final runs for the V-Hawks came in the sixth inning. Nathan Faust ran in Jake Ulbert, while Gabe Kahl brought in Nathan Faust. The Sabercats attempted to fight back, but they came up short, scoring four runs in the seventh inning. 

At the plate, the V-Hawks were led by Jaden Vanderwiere. Vanderwiere had two hits in his four appearances. Other hits on the game came from Ryan Mesa, Eli Tucker, Hunter Hess, Ashton Duvall, and Jake Ulbert. The V-Hawks were led in the mount by Aiden Murphy. Murphy threw six innings, allowing only four hits and no runs, throwing 12 strikeouts. Michael Conroy pitched for just under an inning, allowing two hits and four runs. Jean Torres closed the game, allowing just one hit in just under an inning. 

GAME TWO (VU 14, MB 4)

In the second game of the double-header, the V-Hawks took the dominant victory. Despite the high-scoring game, neither team scored until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Ryder Mortensen brought in Sean Rooney and Gabe Kahl on a home run to put the V-Hawks on the board first. The Sabercats scored two in the sixth inning, but the V-Hawks responded with five runs in the bottom of the sixth. Armani Camus ran in Tanner Nienhaus and Sean Rooney. Cody Lozano singled to run in Nathan Faust and Armani Camus. The final run of the inning came on a Jake Ulbert single that ran in Zeke Nachtigal. Maranatha Baptist fought to stay in the game, but the V-Hawks held them off, scoring five more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. 

At the plate, the V-Hawks were led by Cody Lozano and Sean Rooney. Lozano had three hits and two RBIs, while Rooney had three hits and one RBI. Other hits came from Armani Camus, Gabe Kahl, Ryder Mortensen, Jake Ulbert, and Derick Cossio. Spencer Hautamaki pitched most of the game, throwing six innings for the V-Hawks. He allowed five hits and two runs in his performance. Ryan Gordon relieved Hautamaki for the final inning, allowing two runs and no hits to finish the competition. 

UP NEXT

The V-Hawks will hit the road Friday and Saturday to compete at St. Francis on April 24 and April 25. Both competitions will be double-headers.