The Briar Cliff baseball team swept Dakota Wesleyan in a GPAC doubleheader on Thursday afternoon at Bishop Mueller Complex.

"We received two great outings from our starting pitchers", said head coach Corby McGlauflin. "We were able to put up a few crooked numbers that proved to be the difference in todays games."

The Chargers drew 11 walks, 11 hits and 16 runs across the doubleheader. Briar Cliff is now on a four-game conference winning streak.

Game 1 – 10-5
Kyler Steinborn and the Charger defense kept the Tigers off the board in the first inning. The Charger offense managed to jump on the board first behind a two costly DWU errors, a Matthew Hmielewski, an RBI single from Quentin Evers and a Cam Riemer RBI sacrifice fly out. At the end of one, the Chargers led 2-0.

Dakota Wesleyan responded with one run of their own in the top of the second. With two outs, the Tigers carded a single, stolen base and RBI single to cut the BC lead to 1-2.

The Chargers gained the momentum back in the bottom of the third. Walter Hunt tallied a two-RBI double down the left field line and was driven in by an RBI single from Jake Chronic. Chronic then stole both second and third, allowing him to score on a coaxed throw. Briar Cliff wasn't done just yet as Easton Cone roped an RBI triple to right field. Heading into the fourth, the Cliff pushed their lead to 7-1.

Connor Lange found the first big fly of the day in the fourth frame, tallying a solo home run to left field. Hunt reached base on a fielder's choice and was driven in on an RBI double to left field from Cam Riemer. BC extended their lead to 9-1 heading into the fifth.

The Tigers responded in the top of the fifth. DWU carded three runs on three hits and a crucial Charger error to cut the deficit to five runs.

BC fought back in the bottom of the fifth behind a drawn walk from Cone and an RBI single from Trey Rogers. The Chargers held a six-run advantage with two innings to play.

In a come-from-behind attempt, the Tigers strung three hits together in the top of the seventh to score one run. The comeback efforts were not enough as the Chargers went on to win their third conference game in a row 10-5.

The Chargers tallied seven hits in game one. Seven different Chargers carded one hit apiece as Hunt and Riemer led the way with two RBIs each.

Steinborn had a solid outing on the mound, pitching a complete game, allowing five runs on nine hits and striking out three.

Game 2 – W, 6-3
The Tigers put pressure on the Charger defense early in game two following a leadoff hit and stolen base. Ryan Riddle buckled down to get two routine ground balls and one strikeout to escape the frame.

Despite being held hitless, the Cliff showed their plate discipline in the bottom of the first. The Chargers scored four runs on four drawn walks and three hit batters. Going to the top of the second, BC held an early 4-0 lead.

After a scoreless second frame, the Chargers struck gold again in the bottom of the third. Following walks from Jake Allen and Riemer, Chronic laid down a bunt single to load the bases. Cone tallied an RBI on a ground ball double play to extend the BC lead to five runs heading to the fourth.

Dakota Wesleyan would answer in the fourth. With two outs, the Tigers tallied a double and an RBI single to enter the scoring column and cut the deficit to 1-5.

After a leadoff walk from Allen in the bottom of the fifth, courtesy runner Hmielewski stole second where he was driven in by an RBI single up the middle from Chronic to push the score to 6-1 with two innings left of play.

Riddle and the Charger defense stayed mistake-free through the sixth inning as Riddle struck out two Tigers and Farrell made a routine ground ball play.

In a come-from-behind effort, the Tigers started a rally. Following a costly Charger error, Daulton Wilcoxen laced a two-run homer to left center field to inch the Tigers closer. DWU found two more hits in the final frame, but the Tigers ran out of outs as the Chargers went on to complete the sweep of Dakota Wesleyan 6-3.

Briar Cliff tallied four hits in game two. The Chargers were led by Chronic who went a perfect two-for-two at the plate with one RBI. Evers and Cone carded one hit each and Cone also recorded one RBI.

Riddle was a gem on the mound as he went 6.0 innings, allowing one run on five hits, while striking out five. Austin Carter and Brett Sitzmann appeared in the final inning to slam the door shut and complete the doubleheader sweep of Dakota Wesleyan.

The Chargers continue their GPAC slate when they host Dakota Wesleyan again in a doubleheader on Saturday at Bishop Mueller Complex. The first pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
 

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