March 14, 2009

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - Senior Tim Bingham (Plainfield, Ill./Westland, Mi./John Glenn) laced a single up the middle in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded to score sophomore Mike Vucsko (Evergreen Park, Ill./Marist) and tally the winning run in a 3-2 extra inning affair over Winona State. The victory came on the heels of an 8-0 Winona State victory to open the doubleheader.

"Tim had a huge hit," head coach Tim McDonough said. "You want your senior up there in that spot and he relishes those types of opportunities."

Lewis grabbed a lead with two runs in the third. Senior Chris McCall (River Forest, Ill./Oak Park-River Forest/College of DuPage CC) singled down the leftfield line to score sophomore Ryan Koerner (LeRoy, Ill./LeRoy) who led the inning off with an infield single. The Flyers kept the line moving when Bingham hit a ground ball up the middle that the Winona State shortstop couldn't handle. Freshman Cameron Anello (Homer Glen, Ill./Brother Rice) was running on contact from third and earned Bingham his first RBI of the day.

Junior Joe Scumaci (Chicago, Ill./St. Laurence/Triton) didn't get the decision, but looked solid for 6.2 innings. He allowed nine hits, two walks and just one earned run. Scumaci holds a 0.89 ERA in 20.1 innings this year but just a 1-0 record.

"Joe continues to pitch well and deserve better," McDonough said. "He set the tone after the first game."

Entering the sixth Scumaci had allowed just three hits but then the Warriors threatened. Sam Henriksen singled with two outs to drive in Winona State's to cut the Lewis lead to 2-1. With runners on first and second Brett Maxwell hit a dribbler up the third baseline that sophomore Richard Forkin (Orland Park, Ill./Lockport) rushed to and tried to throw Maxwell out at first. The throw was late and wild, advancing Winona State's second run to the plate. Scumaci got the next batter to fly out to center and end the threat.

The Warriors had a runner in scoring position in the seventh when Ted Bartnik (Diamond, Ill./Coal City/Illinois Valley CC) entered the game and struck out his first batter to end the inning. Bartnik stayed in the game and pitched a perfect eighth. Freshman Don Cizek (LaGrange Park, Ill./Lyons) struckout the first batter of the ninth, only to be replaced by freshman Drew Hicks (Pekin, Ill./Pekin). Hicks (2-0) worked two quick outs and would eventually earn the win.

"The bullpen was great," McDonough said. "They had no walks and that is exactly what you want in extra inning ball games."

In the ninth, Bingham was in position to get the RBI thanks to a Vucsko single and walks by Anello and McCall.

The Flyers suffered an 8-0 loss in the first game. Senior Chris Brigham (Bolingbrook, Ill./Romeoville) took the loss in 5.0 innings to fall to 2-1 on the year. He allowed three earned runs and seven hits. The Warriors scored a run in the first and two in the second and third to take an early lead. Winona State's Ross Hellenbrand threw a complete game shutout for the victory.

The Flyers (7-5) and Warriors (5-7) play a single contest on Sunday at noon.