Auburndale, Fla. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse baseball team concluded its spring break trip with a 6-4 victory over Clarkson University (N.J.) Friday morning at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex. The Eagles improve to 2-5 on the season while the Golden Knights drop to 4-6. 

The game was scoreless after three innings as both teams did not record a hit. UWL broke through in the bottom of the fourth with four runs. Nate Heili singled to start the inning and stole second. He moved to third on Zach Carney's infield single and then scored on Mitch Sutton's RBI single for the first run of the game. The Eagles' Brennan Schmitt followed with a three-run home run to make it 4-0.

Clarkson (N.Y.) responded in the top of the fifth with four runs to tie the game. V.incentGranuzzo singled with the bases loaded to score Joe Stockman for the Golden Knights' first run. Mike Nee then singled down the right field line to score MIke Tito and Tommy Bianchi to make it a one-run game. Caleb Doyle delivered a pinch-hit single to score Granuzzo with the game-tying run. UWL's Owen Olson got a double-play ground out to end the inning. 

UWL quickly retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Ethan Gerstner doubled to lead-off the frame and advanced to third on Carney's one-out single. Sutton followed with the go-ahead single to bring in Gerstner and make it 5-4. Shane Coker was hit-by-pitch to load the bases and Carson Youngquist was also hit-by-pitch with Carney scoring and a two-run UWL lead. 

Both teams left two runners on base in the sixth. UWL left runners on second and third in the bottom of the eighth. Tito lead-off the top of the ninth with a single for Clarkson (N.Y.). James Witt came into pitch for UWL and retired the next two batters. Nee walked with two outs, but Witt retired pinch-hitter Brad Pearson on a foul ball to Gerstner to end the game. 

Olson (1-0) earned the win for UWL, pitching 3.2 innings, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out five. Witt earned his first save, going 1.0 inning with one walk. Mason McMahon started for the Eagles, pitching 4.1 innings, allowing three hits, four runs and four walks with eight strikeouts. UWL totaled 11 hits with Carney finishing 3-for-5 with two runs. Heili and Sutton each went 2-for-5 with a run scored while Sutton had two RBI.

Mark Connor (1-2) took the loss for Clarkson (N.Y.), pitching 4.1 innings, allowing seven hits and six runs with four strikeouts. The Golden Knights finished with seven hits as Granuzzo went 2-for-5 with a run scored and RBI.

UWL returns to action Tuesday, March 26 hosting Luther College (Iowa) at 3 p.m. in the Eagles' home opener at Copeland Park.