EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – Sam Zacks (So./Glencoe, Ill./New Trier) had five more hits as the Carleton College baseball team concluded the 2023 season with a doubleheader at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The Blugolds swept the non-conference twin bill by scores of 13-8 and 12-2.
 
"I'm so proud of this group of young men," said Carleton head coach Alec Holcomb. "We battled through adversity all year long and never blinked an eye or gave in. I will remember this team forever, and thank you to the seniors for laying the foundation for big things to come"
 
Game 1 Recap
UWEC 13, Carleton 8
Fresh off a 5-for-6 game on Monday, Zacks went 4-for-4 with a walk in the opener. Michael Berler (Sr./San Francisco, Calif./The Bay School), Sam Chutkow (Fy./Needham, Mass./Needham), and Sam Gossard (Fy./Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) also had multi-hit games as the Knights (8-25) out-hit their hosts 13 to 12.
 
Carleton collected six hits during a four-run top of the first inning, a frame that included an RBI single by Berler and run-scoring double by senior Nick Fitzhugh (Oakland, Calif./Head-Royce).
 
The Blugolds (12-27) scored once in the bottom of the first, but the Knights got that run back on an RBI grounder by Steve Antrim (Jr./Lake Bluff, Ill./Lake Forest) in the fourth inning.
 
The game shifted in UWEC's favor during a five-run bottom of the fourth. The big blow was a two-run homer by Austin Buck. The home team added six more tallies in the fifth inning and another in the sixth.
 
Jackson Corcoran (Fy./Maplewood, Mo./Maplewood-Richmond Heights) came on in relief to pitch the bottom of the eighth inning, and the Carleton rookie joined a unique club as he recorded four strikeouts during the frame. The first batter fanned but reached base after a dropped third strike. After the next batter was hit by a pitch, Corcoran proceeded to strike out the next three batters.
 
The wackiness continued in the top of the ninth inning as the Knights scored three runs without needing a hit thanks to three errors, a walk, and a balk.
 
Game 2 Recap
UWEC 12, Carleton 2
Once again the Knights jumped out to the early lead as Zacks doubled to start the finale and scored on Nathan Barnhart's (Fy./Gig Harbor, Wash./Bellarmine Prep) single to left field.
 
The Blugolds responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame and then proceeded to score in each of the next four innings as well.
 
Carleton wrapped up the season with its final run in the seventh. Jordan Appelbaum (So./Calabasas, Calif./Chaminade College Prep) had a pinch-hit double, followed by a single for Theo Northover (Fy./San Francisco, Calif./The Bay School of San Francisco) and sacrifice fly off the bat of Aaron Rice (So./Evergreen, Colo./Colorado Academy).
 
The Carleton coaches took advantage of the opportunity to get playing time for numerous individuals on the day. The last of the 27 Knights to end up on the lineup card at some point during the two contests was senior pitcher AJ Staff (Bainbridge Island, Wash./Bainbridge), who was inserted into the game in the seventh inning. Instead of taking the mound, Staff grabbed a bat and stepped to the plate for his first collegiate plate appearance. Unfortunately, there was no storybook ending this time as he was retired to end the game.