Feb. 28, 2010

Box Score

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Lewis baseball team won for the fourth time in five games thanks to a sweep of Gannon on Sunday afternoon. The Flyers rallied from a 7-1 deficit in game one to win 8-7. Lewis won the second game 8-2 thanks to a complete game performance by freshman Steve Almanza (Glendale, Ariz./Horizon) in his first collegiate start.

Each team scored a run in the first inning of game one. Gannon plated sixth in the second to take the quick 7-1 lead.

Lewis got back in it in the top of the third with five runs to make it a one run game. Junior Miguel Amesquita (Hometown, Ill./Brother Rice/Triton) had a two-run home run in the frame. Junior Tyler Newsome (Palos Heights, Ill./Marist/South Suburban CC), freshman Kyle Thomas (Homer Glen, Ill./Providence Catholic) and freshman Zach Stetson (Kankakee, Ill./Herscher) all knocked in a run in the inning.

Lewis knotted up the game in the fifth. Amesquita tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Thomas.

The Flyers took the lead for good with a run in the sixth when senior Scott Householder (Berwyn, Ill./St. Josephs/Triton) doubled to score junior Mike Vucsko (Evergreen Park, Ill./Marist) who got on base with a walk.

Sophomore Drew Hicks (Pekin, Ill./Pekin) earned the win thanks to three scoreless innings in relief. Senior Ted Bartnik (Diamond, Ill./Coal City/Illinois Valley CC) pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning with two strikeouts to earn his first save of the season.

"We didn't play very well early on in game one," head coach Tim McDonough said. "But I'm proud of our effort to fight back. The bullpen was outstanding in the middle innings to give us a chance to creep back in it. It was a hard fought win, something we needed."

The story of game two was Almanza's collegiate debut. He allowed just two runs, both earned, six hits and three walks. He struck out six. Gannon scored a run in the fourth and seventh inning.

"Steve threw a lot of first pitch strikes and was very composed," McDonough said. "He was composed and set the tempo. He earned the complete game."

The Flyers scored two in the second, five in the third and one in the fifth.

Amesquita had his second home run of the day in the second inning on a solo shot. Freshman Derek Thomas (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy) had an RBI single in the inning.

Householder had a two RBI single in the third inning. Amesquita knocked in two more with a single. Junior Ryan Koerner (LeRoy, Ill./LeRoy)'s (LeRoy, Ill./LeRoy) RBI bases loaded walked capped the inning.

Lewis' run in the fifth came on a Koerner RBI ground out to score Derek Thomas.

Amesquita and Householder each went 3-for-4 in game two.

"Miguel was locked in all day," McDonough said. "It is good to see because when he gets going he can be pretty streaky."

The Flyers improve to 4-5. Gannon falls to 2-2. The Flyers are off on Monday, but return to the field on Tuesday for a single game against Findlay at 8:30 a.m. CT.