Verbrick Throws First Nine-Inning Perfect Game in WIAC History

     UW-Stevens Point senior Bill Verbrick threw the first nine-inning perfect game in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference history Saturday as the Pointer baseball team defeated UW-River Falls 5-0 in the WIAC season opener for both teams.

It was the first perfect game or no-hitter thrown in a WIAC game since UW-Oshkosh�s Whitney McCurdy had a perfect game against UW-Stevens Point in a five-inning game on April 14, 1992.

Verbrick struck out 10 and also had the sixth no-hitter in school history. His effort came almost exactly 10 years since the last no-hitter in Pointer history as Rob Wolff, Chris Combs and Kory Krueger teamed to no-hit Lakeland on April 7, 1992. The only other perfect game in UW-Stevens Point history was a five-inning performance by Bill Kuse against UW-Eau Claire in 1961.

UW-River Falls� designated hitter Dan Kretovics came the closest to reaching base for the Falcons on two occasions. The first came in the fifth inning when Kretovics bunted, but Pointer third baseman Paul Molitor charged the play and threw off-balance to get Kretovics at first. In the eighth, Kretovics hit a ball deep in the hole at shortstop, but Mike Hall threw him out on a close play.

Verbrick, an Appleton native who played prep baseball at Xavier High School, struck out the first two batters in the ninth, including Josh Eidem on a 3-2 pitch at the knees that was a called strike three for the second out. He then forced Andy Becker to ground out to shortstop to end the game.

Verbrick is now 3-0 for the season with a 1.96 earned run average. He has 24 strikeouts in 23 innings pitched. Saturday�s win was the 19th of his career, putting him second on the school�s all-time wins list.

The Pointers also beat the Falcons 4-1 in the second game to improve to 8-1 overall. Oddly, Eidem doubled off Pointer starter Jeff Pieper to lead off the second game.

Check out the Final Box Score of Verbrick's Perfect Game