State Sports Roundup: Braun has a big day as US wins another WBC game

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Milwaukee Brewers’ left-fielder Ryan Braun had two singles and scored twice last night, as the U-S crushed Puerto Rico 7-to-1 in the second round of the World Baseball Classic. Braun helped set the tone when he walked in the first inning, and then hustled home on a double by Joe Mauer to the wall in left center. Brewers’ catcher Martin Maldonado played first base for the Puerto Ricans, and went 0-for-2 with a pair of strikeouts. Gio Gonzalez pitched five innings for the win, as the Americans stayed undefeated after four games. They’re in a Pool-Two, a double-elimination bracket, and will face the unbeaten Dominican Republic tomorrow night in Miami. The winner will earn a place in the semi-finals in San Francisco.

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Mark Rogers had another shaky start yesterday, as the Milwaukee Brewers got crushed by Texas 12-to-3 in an exhibition at Surprise Arizona. Rogers – who’s competing for a spot in the Milwaukee rotation – had his third straight rough outing. He went one-and-a-third innings and gave up six runs – three earned – on three hits and four walks. Rogers is putting Milwaukee in a rough spot because he’s out of minor league options, and he might have to go to the bullpen if the Brewers want to keep him. He’s now 0-and-1 this spring with an E-R-A of seven-and-a-half. Sean Halton drove in Milwaukee’s only runs with a three-run double in the ninth inning. Jeff Baker homered and drove in two runs for the Rangers. He now has a seven-game hitting streak and a .529 spring batting average. The Brewers are now 7-and-9 in the Cactus League. They’ll play their first night game of the spring against Arizona this evening.

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U-W Whitewater is the pre-season favorite to win its first W-I-A-C regular season softball title since 2009. Defending champion Eau Claire is picked to finish second in a poll by the league’s coaches and sports information directors. River Falls is projected to take third, followed by Platteville. Whitewater has had 30-or-more wins in four of the last five seasons. And they return all nine starting position players from a year ago, including Emily Epifanio who was the league’s player-of-the-year. She batted .388 in 2012 with eight homers and 32 R-B-I’s.

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