May 2, 2009

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - The Lewis baseball team split a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader with UW-Parkside at Brennan Field on Saturday afternoon. Lewis took the first game 9-5 before falling in the second 8-4. Lewis was the visiting team in both games, as the contests were moved to the Lewis campus due to wet grounds at UW-Parkside's field.

Lewis made it 2-0 in the first inning of game one with an unearned run and a solo home run by junior Scott Householder (Berwyn, Ill./St. Josephs/Triton) that sailed far over the right field wall.

Lewis made it 5-0 in the fourth with a two-out three-run home run to left field by junior Ryan McManaman (Waukegan, Ill./Waukegan).

The Rangers plated two in the fifth but Lewis came back with a run in the top of the sixth. Senior Tim Bingham (Plainfield, Ill./Westland, Mi./John Glenn) led off the inning by getting on with an error. He then scored on a double by freshman Michael Wido (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South).

Each team scored a run in the sixth before Lewis tallied three in the seventh to take a 9-3 lead. The Rangers added two in the bottom of the seventh but it could have been worse. It looked like it was 9-6 after Andy Heller appeared to score from second on a Josh Fick single. But Wido appealed and the umpires ruled Heller missed the base when rounding third. He was ruled out to end the inning and his run was taken off the board.

Junior Ted Bartnik (Diamond, Ill./Coal City/Illinois Valley CC) entered the game in the eighth to get out of a bases loaded jam with a line out to center field. He pitched the ninth to get his third save of the year.

Senior Chris Brigham (Bolingbrook, Ill./Romeoville), in his final start at Brennan Field, earned the win to improve his mark to 5-5. He allowed five runs, three earned, on nine hits and two walks in six innings of work.

In game two UW-Parkside pushed two across in the first and one in the second thanks to three early doubles. The Rangers added another in the third to make it a quick 4-1 Rangers' lead. Lewis' only tally during this time was a home run by senior Chris McCall (River Forest, Ill./Oak Park-River Forest)'s (River Forest, Ill./Oak Park-River Forest/College of DuPage CC) to center field in the first inning.

The Flyers' bats stayed silent till the sixth when sophomore Mike Vucsko (Evergreen Park, Ill./Marist) led off the inning with a single up the middle. Sophomore Richard Forkin (Orland Park, Ill./Lockport) followed with a double to score Vucsko. McCall grounded out and then Forkin was out at third on a fielder choice off the bat of Householder. Householder advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a clutch single by Bingham. Bingham then stole second and scored on a Wido single to left field.

The rally tied the score at four entering the bottom of the sixth. UW-Parkside had two outs and a runner on first when Heller singled to right to put runners at first and second. John Hasser hit a line drive to center field that McManaman couldn't handle and gave the Rangers a one run lead. UW-Parkside added three more to make it 8-4.

"I told the guys it was a tale of two games," head coach Tim McDonough said. "In game one we were more aggressive offensively, defensively and on the mound. In game two they were the aggressive team."

Junior Joe Scumaci (Chicago, Ill./St. Laurence/Triton) took the loss to drop his mark to 6-4. He pitched 5.2 innings, allowing 10 hits, three walks and four earned runs.

The Flyers are now 19-31 (7-18 GLVC). The 19 victories on the year are the most since 2002.

UW-Parkside is 5-42 (4-26 GLVC). The two clubs tangle in another doubleheader on Sunday at noon.