SPASH BASEBALL STORMS BACK TO DOWN WISCONSIN RAPIDS

Zaleski Sports

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Stevens Point overcame a five-run deficit to stun Wisconsin Rapids 7-6 in a Wisconsin Valley Conference baseball game Monday at Lincoln High School.

The win leaves Stevens Point one victory away from clinching no worse than a share of the Wisconsin Valley Conference title. The Panthers can grab the outright title with a sweep of two games against Wausau East this week. Stevens Point hosts East on Tuesday and will travel to Wausau on Thursady.

Gavin Przybelski had a two-out two-run single and scored on a hit by Tommy Drohner to tie the game at 5-5 as SPASH scored five times in the top of the sixth.

Benett Klisth led off the seventh with a single and scored on a groundout, and Deacan Koback knocked in another run to give the Panthers a 7-5 lead.

Wisconsin Rapids scored once in the bottom of the seventh before Riley Warznyski was able to nail down the save for the Panthers (16-5, 9-1 Wisconsin Valley Conference).

Josh Opiola picked up the win, throwing 3 1/3 scoreless innings after entering when Rapids led 5-0 in the third.

Wisconsin Rapids (12-9, 6-4 WVC) will wrap up its regular-season and conference schedules with a game at Wausau West on Tuesday and at home against the Warriors on Thursday.

Panthers 7, Raiders 6

Stevens Point 000 005 2 - 7 13 0

Wisconsin Rapids 005 000 1 - 6 8 0

Wisconsin Rapids stats not reported.

WP: Josh Opiola. SV: Riley Warzynski.

SO: Kaden Thauer (2 2/3 inn.) 1, Opiola (3 1/3 inn.) 1, Warzynski (1 inn.) 2. BB: Opiola 0, Thauer 2, Warzynski 1.

Top hitters: SP, Tommy Drohner 2x4, RBI; Kale Roth 2x4; Noah Marschke 3x4, RBI; Warzynski 2x4.

Records: Stevens Point 16-5, 9-1 Wisconsin Valley Conference; Wisconsin Rapids 12-9, 6-4 Wisconsin Valley Conference.