Feb. 27, 2009

Box Score

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - The Madonna Crusaders scored nine runs in the eighth inning to defeat the Lewis University baseball team 10-4 in the season opener for both teams.

Junior Joe Scumaci (Chicago, Ill./St. Laurence/Triton) was impressive in his first start as a Flyer. He allowed only one earned run while striking out eight in 6.2 innings. He walked one and surrendered seven hits.

"Joe was outstanding," head coach Tim McDonough said. "He gave us more than a chance to win the ball game. He had everything working."

Freshman Don Cizek (LaGrange Park, Ill./Lyons) added a scoreless inning in relief.

The Flyers scored their first run of the season in the third inning when junior Ryan McManaman (Waukegan, Ill./Waukegan) doubled in sophomore Ryan Koerner (LeRoy, Ill./LeRoy) who reached on a throwing error.

Madonna responded in the top of the fourth with a homerun by Matt Kay.

Lewis made it 3-1 with two runs in the bottom of the fifth when sophomore Mike Vucsko (Evergreen Park, Ill./Marist) and Koerner scored. Koerner grounded out in the sixth to plate freshman Zach Stetson (Kankakee, Ill./Herscher) to make the score 4-1.

It was the same score when the Crusaders tallied nine in the eighth inning. The big blow was a Kevin Zerbo three run home run in an inning that featured nine hits.

"Tip your hats to them," McDonough said. "We were throwing strikes and they did a good job of taking aggressive swings. Hitting is contagious and their eighth showed that."

Robert Fraser threw an inning to get the victory for Madonna. Junior Ted Bartnik (Diamond, Ill./Coal City/Illinois Valley CC) took the loss.

Stetson and freshman Michael Wido (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) each recorded their first collegiate hit.

Madonna is 1-0, Lewis is 0-1. The Flyers are back on the field on Saturday, playing region-foe Hillsdale in a doubleheader at 10 a.m. CT.