April 8, 2010

Box Score

box score in PDF Format

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - Senior Ryan McManaman (Waukegan, Ill./Waukegan) hit a two-run home run in the second inning of Lewis' 6-5 non-conference loss to Saint Xavier on Thursday afternoon at Brennan Field. Lewis had the bases loaded in the ninth inning but couldn't push across the equalizer.

Lewis took the lead with four runs in the bottom of the second. Freshman Zach Stetson (Kankakee, Ill./Herscher) started the inning with a double. Freshman Ian O'Connor (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) followed with a double to score Stetson. McManaman knocked in O'Connor on a two-run home run to center field. Lewis scored their final run of the inning when junior Richard Forkin (Orland Park, Ill./Lockport) singled with two outs to score senior Ryan Koerner (LeRoy, Ill./LeRoy) who doubled two batters earlier.

Following a lone Saint Xavier run in the top of the third, Lewis got it back with one in the bottom of the frame. Junior Tyler Newsome (Palos Heights, Ill./Marist/South Suburban CC) singled, stole second, advanced to third on a ground out and then scored on a wild pitch.

Lewis starter Matt Zicher (Arlington Heights, Ill./Hersey/Triton) looked strong until giving up four runs in the fifth inning. The Cougars had five hits in the frame. Three of Saint Xavier's runs in the inning scored with two outs. Zicher finished with a no-decision, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits and five walks in five innings.

Sophomore Pat Lahey (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) pitched the sixth and seventh innings. He gave up just two hits and walked none in two innings, but the first batter he faced in the sixth doubled and scored what would eventually be the winning run. The outing drops Lahey's record to 3-2.

The Flyers' attack was stymied by Saint Xavier reliever Mike Pokers. He allowed no runs in 6.2 innings while fanning seven Flyers and walking two. The win improves Pokers' record to 1-1.

The Flyers had a chance to tie the score or do even better in the ninth. Junior Miguel Amesquita (Hometown, Ill./Brother Rice/Triton) singled with one out. Newsome followed with a fly ball to right field for the second out. Junior Vince Campagna (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) pinch-hit and singled up the middle to keep the game alive. O'Conner walked to load the bases. Sophomore Michael Wido (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) pinch hit and after starting the count 2-0, saw it evened at 2-2. The game ended when Wido took a pitch from Pokers on the outside corner of the plate for strike three.

"Give credit to Saint Xavier," head coach Tim McDonough said. "He (Pokers) was throwing well and we didn't make the adjustments we needed to at the plate. Couple that with walking seven guys and it adds up to a loss."

Lewis had 14 hits to Saint Xavier's nine. Koerner finished the day with three hits, including a double, and a run scored.

Saint Xavier improves to 19-12-1. Lewis falls to 17-17. The Flyers return to conference play on Saturday and Sunday with a pair of doubleheaders at Kentucky Wesleyan.