March 2, 2010

Box Score

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Senior Scott Householder (Berwyn, Ill./St. Josephs/Triton) had four RBI to help Lewis come back from a five-run deficit and defeat Findlay 10-8 on Tuesday evening.

Lewis entered the top of the seventh trailing 6-1 after the Oilers scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth. The Flyers loaded the bases with two outs when junior Richard Forkin (Orland Park, Ill./Lockport) made it a 6-2 game on a single to score sophomore Michael Wido (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South). Householder provided the big blow with a bases clearing double to make it a 6-5 contest.

It was his fourth RBI of the game after earning his first on a ground out in the first.

Sophomore Ryan Servos (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) threw a scoreless seventh to keep the Flyers within one run entering the eighth. Lewis responded by loading the bases for the second consecutive inning. While in the seventh it was the senior clearing the bases, in the eighth it was freshman Brian Norwood (Medinah, Ill./Lake Park). His bases clearing triple gave Lewis the lead for good. Freshman Derek Thomas (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy) followed with a single to score Norwood. Thomas stole second, advanced to third on wild pitch and scored when Forkin earned his second RBI of the day on a single to make it 10-6.

Findlay added two runs in the eighth to make it closer. However senior Ted Bartnik (Diamond, Ill./Coal City/Illinois Valley CC) got the last out in the eighth and all three in the ninth for his second save of the season.

Servos earned his first collegiate victory thanks to his inning of relief.

Norwood finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Thomas went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.

"I'm proud the effort from our entire team," head coach Tim McDonough said. "We stayed composed and took good swings all night. We broke through in the seventh and eighth with some two-out hits and some production at the bottom of the order (Norwood and Thomas)."

Junior Matt Zicher (Arlington Heights, Ill./Hersey/Triton) earned the start on the mound in his first appearance since missing most of 2009 due to injury. He allowed one run while striking out four in three innings before reaching his predetermined pitch count for the outing.

"I know we gave up some runs today but I saw things I liked on the staff," McDonough said. "Zicher looked strong and it's encouraging if we can get him going. Teddy (Bartnik) is starting to assert himself as a legitimate late inning guy."

Findlay drops to 2-4 while the Flyers improve to 5-5. Lewis plays Maryville on Wednesday at 2 p.m. CT.