La Crosse, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse baseball team swept a doubleheader Saturday afternoon, defeating Finlandia University (MIch.), 6-3 and 20-2 (7 innings) at Copeland Park. The Eagles improve to 25-13 overall and 19-5 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) while the Lions drop to 4-32 overall and 1-23 in the conference.

In game one, Zach Pronschinske (5-1) pitched his second consecutive complete-game and recorded double-digit strikeouts for his third straight contest. In 9.0 innings of work, Pronschinske allowed three runs on eight hits while striking out 12. He has won his last five starts.

UWL scored first in the game as Nate Heili led-off the third inning with a single and stole second. After a walk, Heili would score on a Brady Stolzman single. The Eagles would get another run in the fourth inning on an RBI single from Heili to score Ethan Gerstner.

The Eagles would take a 4-0 lead in the fifth inning, scoring two runs on two hits. Back-to-back doubles by Gerstner and Tommy Nelsen drove in the two runs for UWL.

Finlandia (Mich.) would score three runs in the seventh inning to cut its deficit to 4-3.  UWL responded with two runs in the bottom half of the seventh on an RBI single from Shane Coker and a sacrifice fly from Nelsen to make it 6-3. After going down in order in the eighth inning, Finlandia (Mich.) loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth, but Pronschinske forced a fielder's choice ground out to end the game. 

UWL finished with 14 hits and had six players with two hits apiece. Heili, Brennan Schmitt, Stolzman, Carson Youngquist, Alex Robson and Gerstner all finished with two hits. 

Ashton Knutson (1-6) suffered the loss Finlandia (Mich.) as he allowed six runs on 14 hits and two walks while striking out four in 8.0 innings.  

Game two saw the Eagles' offense explode for 20 runs on 19 hits in the seven-inning game. The 20 runs marks the second time this season UWL accomplished the feat as it earned a 20-13 victory over UW-Platteivlle on April 7. The Eagles' 19 hits are the most since finishing with 19 against UW-Platteville on April 25, 2018.   

Schmitt put UWL on the board first with an RBI double in the opening inning. Nelsen drove in a run with a single to put the Eagles up 2-0 in the second.

UWL scored seven runs on five hits, including a three-run home run from Stolzman in the third inning for a 9-1 advantage. After scoring one run in the fourth inning, UWL scored eight more in the fifth. Ben Seaman recorded his first hit as an Eagle in the inning to score two runs while Ty Hamilton also got his first hit to drive in another run.

After Finlandia (Mich.) scored a run in the top of the sixth, UWL added two more runs in the bottom half to put the Eagles up 20-2. 

James Witt (2-0) earned the win for the Eagles as he allowed two runs on four hits while striking out eight in 6.0 innings of work. Aaron Plaisted made his first appearance of the season as he pitched a perfect seventh inning. Schmitt finished the game 4-for-4 with three doubles, three RBI and three runs. Schmitt's three doubles tied a single-game school record held by eight players. Robson was 3-for-3 with three RBI while Stolzman was 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI.

Joey Krug (1-6) suffered the loss for the Lions as he gave up nine runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out three in 2.1 innings of work. 

UWL returns to action Friday, May 10 facing UW-Platteville in the WIAC Championships (presented by Culver's) at 10 a.m. The Eagles are the second-seed while the Pioneers are the third seed. Top-seeded and host UW-Whitewater faces fourth-seeded UW-Stout at 1 p.m. The tournament follows a double-elimination format.