DARLINGTON – Darlington ran their SWAL winning streak to four games by routing Riverdale, 14-2, in Muscoda on Tuesday, April 18, and edging Mineral Point, 3-2, in Mineral Point on Thursday, April 20.
    The Redbirds improved to 4-1 in SWAL play and moved to 4-4 overall with Monday’s 12-9 non-conference loss to Monroe at Otto Ruf Field.
    Nick Andrae was 2-for-3 with a double, three runs driven in and a run scored to lead the Redbirds’ 19-hit attack against Riverdale. Hayden Hardyman went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs, while Will Schwartz was 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run.
    Jesse Sturtz and Ryan Glendenning were each 3-for-5 with a double, two runs and a RBI. Bailey McGuire also doubled for the ‘Birds.
    Sturtz worked six scoreless innings, giving up three hits and fanning 10 batters to earn the win.
    Against Mineral Point, the Redbirds plated three runs in the top of the fifth inning to erase a 2-0 deficit.
    Brayden McDonald, who was 2-for-3 at the plate, ripped a two-out, two-run double to even the score, and then he came around to score the go-ahead run on Glendenning’s RBI-single.
    Andrae also went 2-for-3, while McGuire and Christian Carr scored runs for the ‘Birds.
    Senior Chad Golackson earned the win on the hill, tossing five innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Glendenning notched the save by firing two scoreless innings in relief without allowing a hit. He fanned three batters.
    Finally, at home against Monroe, the Redbirds lost an early 5-0 lead, and then had a late rally halted in the bottom of the seventh as a three-game winning streak came to a halt with a 12-9 non-conference loss to the Cheesemakers.
    Monroe sent 13 batters to the plate in the top of the fourth inning and plated eight runs to erase the Redbirds’ 5-0 lead. The Cheesemakers added three key insurance runs in the top of the seventh to go up 12-6.
    The ‘Birds answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the seventh to get back within three, and they brought the winning run to the plate with two outs the bases loaded but a ground out to second base ended the threat.
    Sturtz was 3-for-3 with a home run and a double for Darlington. He drove in four runs and scored three times in the game. Hardyman was 2-for-4 with a RBI and a run, while Glendenning scored twice for the ‘Birds.
    Darlington has SWAL games at Southwestern on Friday, April 28, and at Fennimore on Tuesday, May 2, starting at 4:30 p.m. The Redbirds will also host Platteville in a non-conference game on Monday, May 1, beginning at 4:30 p.m.
 
Darlington……. 000  224  6 – 14  19  0
Riverdale……... 000  000  2 –   2    5  1
Leading hitters: Ryan Glendenning 3x5, Jesse Sturtz 3x5, Hayden Hardyman 2x5, Will Schwartz 3x4, Bailey McGuire 3x4, Nick Andrae 2x3. 2B- Glendenning, Sturtz, McGuire, Andrae.
WP- Sturtz. LP- Schafer.
At Muscoda, on Tuesday, April 18
 
Darlington……. 000  030  0 – 3  8  2
Mineral Point… 011  000  0 – 2  6  1
Leading hitters: Brayden McDonald 2x3, Nick Andrae 2x3. 2B- McDonald.
WP- Chad Golackson. LP- Dolphin.
S- Ryan Glendenning.
At Mineral Point, on Thursday, April 20
 
Monroe……….. 000  801  3 – 12  13  0
Darlington……. 320  010  3 –   9    8  2
Leading hitters: Jesse Sturtz 3x3, Hayden Hardyman 2x4. HR- Sturtz. 2B- Hardyman, Sturtz.
WP- Ritschard. LP- Hardyman.