Errors Costly for Scorpions in 9-6 Loss to Viterbo

Posted February 17, 2007

Viterbo (Wis.) University erupted for six runs in the eighth inning with the help of two Scorpion errors to take a 9-6 victory over the UTB/TSC Scorpions Saturday, February 17, ending a five-game series.

The V-Hawks from La Crosse, Wis. won the five-game series, 3-2, in their first games of the season and their first action outdoors since last fall. The Scorpions fell to 2-7-1.

The Scorpions committed 13 errors in the five-game series, and only six of the nine runs scored by Viterbo were earned.

"Our pitchers were doing what they were supposed to do, throwing strikes," Scorpion coach Joel Barta said. We need to show some maturity on the infield, not much more than that."

The Scorpions led 5-3 going into the eighth inning when Viterbo scored its six runs on three hits, the big blow coming on a two-run triple by Wayne Fox, the only V-Hawk with more than one hit or RBI. Steven Boldt scored two runs.

Hawk Scott led the Scorpions with three hits and four RBI, while Chris Walker and Scott Price had two hits each. Gabe Cruz scored three runs.

The Scorpions have played 10 games, and Barta was hopeful of having a better record than 2-7-1.

"But you can't worry about hanging your head, that's something these guys have got to realize, whether they're freshmen or not if they're on the field they're taking somebody's job," Barta said. "If they want the responsibility to be in the mix, they've got to be mentally tough enough to get the job done."

The Scorpions now 19 consecutive road games before returning home March 23. They play at Concordia University in Austin Monday, February 19, with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.