Misericordia is one win away from winning its first Division III College Baseball World Series.
The Cougars outslugged Wisconsin-Whitewater in a 12-9 game June 4 to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series at Classic Auto Group Park.
Game 2 is at 11 a.m. June 6, with Game 3 (if necessary) 45 minutes after the completion of the first game.
“The job isn’t done,” Cougars coach Pete Egbert said. “We came here to do one thing. I want them to stay hungry. We haven’t done anything yet. … We poked the bear tonight. (Whitewater) is upset. They’re not going to lie down.”
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All week, Egbert has said his Cougars (43-10) had to play an aggressive style of ball, scratching and clawing for runs, stealing bases and taking extra bases on their hits. Even after the win over Whitewater, Egbert said, “We’re not going to win slugfests.”
Only this time, his team did just that, outhitting the Warhawks, 16-12 — a Wisconsin-Whitewater team that came into the game third in the nation in batting average while leading the nation in hits and runs scored.
Adam Cootway (18) and Eli Frank celebrate a first-inning home run during Wisconsin Whitewater’s 12-9 loss to Misericordia in Game 1 of the Division III College World Series at Classic Auto Park on June 4. (Brian Fisher for The News-Herald)
Misericordia got three hits form Brock Bollinger and Gabe Bunn, while Garrett McIlhenney, Jack Regenye, Jason Sanfilippo and Andrew Van Horn all had a pair of base-knocks to put their team one win away from the national title that no team from Pennsylvania has ever won before.
“They outhit us and outplayed us,” Warhawks coach John Vonderlich said bluntly. “We’re hoping we can change that in a couple of days.”
While Wisconsin-Whitewater took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Adam Cootway’s majestic homer to left, his fifth of the year, Misericordia came back with a vengeance, scoring five in the second and five more in the fourth to take a 10-2 lead.
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The second-inning rally was highlighted by a two-run double to left by Bollinger and an infield chopper RBI by Regenye. Two innings later, a two-run single by Van Horn and back-to-back bases-loaded walks by Sanfilippo and Joe Comins upped the ante to 10-2.
“It felt good to really jump on them early and get the ball rolling for the rest of the guys,” Bollinger said.
Wisconsin-Whitewater wasn’t done. The Warhawks put six runs on the board in the top of the fifth with Eli Frank hitting a two-run homer — his 14th of the season — and Andy Thies ripping an RBI single to keep their team in the game.
Then Egbert summoned Matt Lanzendorf from the bullpen — and things changed immensely in the offensive slugfest. Lanzendorf pitched four innings, giving up only one unearned run, to keep Wisconsin-Whitewater at a safe distance. Lanzendorf started a game June 3 against Lynchburg, pitching 3 1/3 innings. His coach didn’t think he’d be available a day later.
He was wrong.
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“He told me he was available,” Egbert said. “I didn’t believe him. I didn’t trust him. I saw that look in his eyes and knew we could go to him, and he was incredible.”
Said Lanzendorf, “When I come to the field, I have the determination and I’m ready to play every day for this team.”
Despite the loss, the Warhawks remain confident in winning two games on June 6 to win their first national title since 2014. Wisconsin-Whitewater is 12-0 in doubleheaders this season.
“I don’t think there is a reset,” Sam Paden said. “We were ready to go and things didn’t go our way. We take Game 1, we’re gonna take Game 2. It’s as simple as that.”
Egbert said his Misericordia team expects a challenge.
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“They’ve got their two dudes on the mound,” he said, noting Cade Berendt and Michael Hilker Jr., who pitched Wisconsin-Whitewater’s first two World Series games. “We know that. We’ve got to keep our heads down and keep working.”
The Nebraska Cornhuskers and Wisconsin Badgers will meet this Saturday at Memorial Stadium in a game that’s more than just a rivalry—it’s about survival. Both teams are on the brink of bowl eligibility, and this Big Ten showdown will put everything on the line.
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Braedyn Locke #18 of the Wisconsin Badgers during the game against the Oregon Ducks at Camp Randall Stadium on November 16, 2024 in Madison, Wisconsin. Braedyn Locke #18 of the Wisconsin Badgers during the game against the Oregon Ducks at Camp Randall Stadium on November 16, 2024 in Madison, Wisconsin. Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images
How to Watch Wisconsin vs Nebraska:
Date: Saturday, November 23, 2024
Time: 3:30 PM ET
Channel: Big Ten Network
Stream: Fubo (Try for free)
When Nebraska joined the Big Ten, fans were ready for a fresh slate of rivalries. Enter Wisconsin. Unfortunately for the Cornhuskers, the rivalry has been a lopsided affair, with the Badgers owning the series for a full decade. But if there was ever a time for Nebraska to flip the script, it’s now, with bowl eligibility and bragging rights hanging in the balance.
The Cornhuskers enter this game with a chance to rewrite history. They’ve been inconsistent in conference play, but playing at home gives them an edge. If Nebraska can control the clock, limit turnovers, and capitalize on Wisconsin’s mistakes, they might finally snap the streak.
The Badgers aren’t just fighting for bowl eligibility, they’re fighting to remind Nebraska who’s boss. Wisconsin has leaned on a strong ground game and tough defense in recent years, and they’ll need that formula again to quiet the Lincoln crowd.
This will be a great rivalry game on Saturday, so make sure to tune in.
WATCH: Wisconsin vs Nebraska live on fuboTV for free
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Wisconsin volleyball ‘dominated by joy’ in sweep of No. 3 Penn State
Sarah Franklin, Anna Smrek and Caroline Crawford spoke to the media following the Badgers’ sweep of Penn State Saturday at the UW Field House.
The Wisconsin vs Nebraska doubleheader ends with volleyball taking center stage Saturday night.
After the Badgers-Cornhuskers football teams do battle in the afternoon at Memorial Stadium, the highly ranked volleyball teams square off down the road on campus in Lincoln, Nebraska.
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And it doesn’t get any bigger in women’s volleyball than Wisconsin and Nebraska. The Big Ten rivals and national powers will meet for a second time this season with a lot at stake.
Wisconsin (21-5, 15-2 Big Ten), ranked sixth in the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association top 25 poll, will look to exact some revenge after Nebraska swept the Badgers earlier this month in Madison. It was Wisconsin’s first and only home loss of the season. A win will also keep the Badgers’ Big Ten title hopes alive.
Nebraska (27-1, 17-0) is on a march toward perfection in the Big Ten and another conference championship. The Cornhuskers, ranked No. 2 nationally, haven’t lost at home this season and are poised for a top seed again in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
Here’s how to watch Wisconsin vs Nebraska, part II.
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Wisconsin volleyball vs Nebraska time today
Date: Saturday, Nov. 23
Time: 7 p.m.
What channel is Wisconsin volleyball vs Nebraska on today? TV, live stream
How can I listen to Wisconsin volleyball vs Nebraska on the radio?
Wisconsin vs Nebraska volleyball prediction
As winners of its last six matches, Wisconsin has found its groove. The Badgers showed their fight in rallying for a wild five-set win over Minnesota earlier this week and before that gave Penn State its first Big Ten loss of the season last Saturday.
Can UW now give Nebraska its first conference loss? The Cornhuskers might just be too good in 2024 and will avoid the upset. Nebraska has won 24 straight matches since its lone defeat on Sept. 3, and with another victory it’ll get closer to a second straight Big Ten championship. Few Big Ten teams have even come close to beating Nebraska this season. The Cornhuskers have 13 sweeps in their 17 conference victories.
One of those 3-0 match wins came against Wisconsin three weeks ago. Kelly Sheffield’s team won’t be swept again, but the Cornhuskers will outlast the Badgers in a hard-fought five-set match before a sold-out crowd at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
Wisconsin volleyball schedule
Wednesday, Nov. 27, 7:30 p.m. CT, vs. Ohio State
Saturday, Nov. 30, 8 p.m. CT, vs. Michigan State
After its showdown against Nebraska, the Badgers return home for their final two matches of the regular season. And Wisconsin will be the heavy favorite against both Ohio State and Michigan State, two teams well under .500 in the Big Ten. Fans will get to see seniors Carly Anderson, CC Crawford, Devyn Robinson, Sarah Franklin, Anna Smrek and Julia Orzol play at the UW Field House one last time before the NCAA Tournament.
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation said a traditional Thanksgiving meal will cost less this year than last.
MILWAUKEE – Some good news for Wisconsinites this year: According to the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, the traditional Thanksgiving meal will cost 2% less than last year.
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According to the WFBF’s survey, the price tag for a typical Thanksgiving meal in Wisconsin is $57.61 this year. The survey tabulated the total cost at $58.86 a year ago.
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That meal includes turkey, green beans, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie and more.
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For comparison, the American Farm Bureau Federation’s survey of the same items showed a 5% decrease from 2023 with prices nationally at $58.08 this year.
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