April 10, 2010

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

Game 1 Box Score in PDF Format
Game 2 Box Score in PDF Format

OWENSBORO, Ky. - Freshman Steve Almanza (Glendale, Ariz./Horizon) pitched a gem in game one and senior Ryan McManaman (Waukegan, Ill./Waukegan) had a big three-run home run in game two on Saturday. Their play helped Lewis baseball to a 3-1, 4-3 sweep of Kentucky Wesleyan in a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader.

The Flyers took the opening game thanks to an impressive outing by Almanza. He went seven innings, allowing one earned run on six hits and just one walk. The victory pushes his record to 3-2. Senior Ted Bartnik (Diamond, Ill./Coal City/Illinois Valley CC) pitched a perfect final two innings to earn his fifth save of the season.

Lewis earned a two-out RBI in the top of the second when freshman Brian Norwood (Medinah, Ill./Lake Park) singled in junior Tyler Newsome (Palos Heights, Ill./Marist/South Suburban CC) from second base. Wesleyan scored their only run in the bottom of the second to tie it at two.

"Steve was great," head coach Tim McDonough said. "It looked like he was getting stronger as the game went on."

The difference came in the top of the seventh when Lewis scored two runs. Junior Ryan Koerner (LeRoy, Ill./LeRoy) led the inning off with a triple. Two batters later junior Richard Forkin (Orland Park, Ill./Lockport) doubled to score Koerner. Junior Miguel Amesquita (Hometown, Ill./Brother Rice/Triton) followed with a single to score Forkin. Almanza gave up a hit to start the eighth when Bartnik entered the game. He retired the next six Panthers batters in order to secure the win.

Forkin, Norwood and Koerner each had two hits in the opening game.

"It was a well played game," McDonough said. "Their guy was good and we got to their bullpen just enough."

Game two, a seven-inning affair, was just as close as the opener. Lewis scored one in the top of the first on a Newsome RBI single to score Forkin. The Panthers tied it with a run in the bottom of the first.

The difference in the game came in the fourth when McManaman smacked a two-out three-run home run.

"Ryan had the big home run and we held on," McDonough said. "We didn't swing the bats particularly great but you know what they say about timely hitting and good pitching."

Starter senior Joe Scumaci (Chicago, Ill./St. Laurence/Triton) made the lead hold up, going all seven innings and allowing a run in the fourth and the seventh. Scumaci struck out two in the seventh to help improve his record to 5-2. He allowed eight hits and three runs. Scumaci, the conference leader in strikeouts, fanned nine Panthers in the game.

"Game two was another pitchers' duel," McDonough said. "Joe was good and didn't walk anybody. That was key because Wesleyan likes to run and do things on the bases so we didn't want to let them get any freebees."

Kentucky Wesleyan falls to 14-21 (6-11 GLVC). Lewis improves to 19-17 (10-8 GLVC). The Flyers and Panthers wrangle again on Sunday in another doubleheader.