March 19, 2010

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - The Flyers opened the 2010 home schedule in a big way on Friday by sweeping a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader from Quincy University by scores of 12-7 and 14-7. Junior Miguel Amesquita (Hometown, Ill./Brother Rice/Triton) had a home run in each game.

In game one, junior Richard Forkin (Orland Park, Ill./Lockport) went 3-for-4 with four RBI. Senior Scott Householder (Berwyn, Ill./St. Joseph's/Triton) also went 3-for-4 with two doubles to lead the Flyers.

The Hawks had a 7-5 advantage in the bottom of sixth, but that's when Lewis put four on the board to take the lead for good. A two-RBI single by Forkin tied the game. Amesquita hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to score Householder, make the score 12-7 and seal the deal for Lewis.

Junior Matt Zicher (Arlington Heights, Ill./Hersey/Triton) (1-0) picked up the win throwing two innings in relief. He allowed three hits and two earned runs. Sophomore Drew Hicks (Pekin, Ill./Pekin) threw two scoreless innings with three strikeouts for the save. Hicks was able to get out of a crucial bases loaded jam in the top of the eighth to keep the Hawks at bay.

"Today was definitely a `hitters' day with the warm weather and the wind blowing out," head coach Tim McDonough said. "I thought our pitchers did a good job of not giving up walks and our defense was pretty solid."

Game two started on a bizarre play. Quincy's Justin Ritchhart hit an infield single to lead off the game but after running through first he turned toward second base instead of into foul territory. Senior catcher Michael Feodurk (Norridge, Ill./Notre Dame) who backed up a desperation throw by Forkin from third, fielded the ball and at the pleading of his dugout tagged Ritchhart who was casually standing in fair territory off the base. Ritchhart was ruled out and the Flyers were off and running.

Lewis scored two or more runs in every inning but the sixth in the seven-inning victory. Four Flyers hit home runs. Amesquita hit a towering 3-run home run to left field in the second inning. Sophomore Michael Wido (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) and Householder went back-to-back in the third. Junior Tyler Newsome (Palos Heights, Ill./Marist/South Suburban CC) hit a two-run home run to right field in the fifth.

"I thought one of the keys today was being able to score add on runs throughout both games," McDonough said. "With days like today, no lead is safe and our offense really stepped up."

Newsome and Amesquita each knocked in three runs in the second game.

Senior Joe Scumaci (Chicago, Ill./St. Laurence/Triton) improved his record to 4-1 by going six innings. He allowed eight hits but walked none and struck out eight. Only three of the seven runs he allowed were earned.

"Quincy is a good ballclub and these are quality wins for us to start the weekend," McDonough said.

Quincy falls to 8-9 (1-4 GLVC). Lewis improves to 12-9 (4-2 GLVC). The Flyers' doubleheader with Quincy scheduled for Saturday at Brennan Field has been pushed back to Sunday at noon.