May 6, 2010

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SAUGET, Ill. - The Lewis baseball team saw their 2010 season come to an end on Thursday with a pair of losses in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament. Lewis fell in the opener 11-3 to Southern Indiana and dropped a 9-5 decision to Indianapolis in an elimination game.

"I told the guys I appreciated their effort all year," head coach Tim McDonough said. "We have a good group of guys and it was an accomplishment to get this far. The plan is for the experience to carry over to next year and be right back here."

Lewis' trip to the GLVC Tournament was their first appearance since 2002.

Lewis, the No. 8 seed, lost the opening game to No. 1 Southern Indiana 11-3. The Screaming Eagles put an unearned run on the board in the first. Lewis tied it at one thanks to a lone run in the top of the third. Junior Richard Forkin (Orland Park, Ill./Lockport) led the inning off with a double and scored on an RBI groundout by junior Miguel Amesquita (Hometown, Ill./Brother Rice/Triton).

However Southern Indiana took control of the game in the bottom of the third with a six spot. Three of the tallies were unearned. Southern Indiana chased Lewis starter and All-GLVC First Team selection Joe Scumaci (Chicago, Ill./St. Laurence/Triton) in the fourth thanks to four more runs. Scumaci took the loss for Lewis (8-3). Four of the 11 runs Scumaci allowed were unearned.

Lewis added a pair of runs in the sixth on RBI ground outs by sophomore Michael Wido (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) and freshman Brian Norwood (Medinah, Ill./Lake Park).

The loss meant Lewis had to turn around and play No. 4 seeded Indianapolis in an elimination game. Indianapolis opened the day with a 13-10 loss to Rockhurst.

Sophomore Pat Lahey (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) started for Lewis and went five innings, allowing seven runs. His Achilles' Heel was the long ball as Indianapolis scored all of their seven runs off Lahey off of three home runs. Lahey took the loss, dropping his record to 3-7.

"The two guys that got us this far (Scumaci and Lahey) didn't have their best stuff today," McDonough said. "However we're not here without them."

Lewis struck first in the ballgame, scoring a run in the bottom of the second on a two-out RBI single by freshman Derek Thomas (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy). His single scored Norwood who led the inning off with a double. Following a two-run homer by Indianapolis in the top of the third, Lewis took the lead back at 3-2 with two of their own in the bottom of the third. Junior Tyler Newsome (Palos Heights, Ill./Marist/South Suburban CC) and Wido each had a RBI in the frame.

Lewis held the lead until the fifth when the Greyhounds scored five runs to take a 7-3 lead. The Flyers cut the advantage to 7-5 in the sixth. Junior Ryan Koerner (Leroy, Ill./LeRoy) tripled to center with two outs to score junior Vince Campagna (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett). Forkin reached on an error to score Koerner. Senior Scott Householder (Berwyn, Ill./St. Josephs/Triton) followed with a double however Amesquita struck out with two runners in scoring position to end the inning. Householder's double would be Lewis' final hit of the night.

Junior Matt Zicher (Arlington Heights, Ill./Hersey/Triton) came in for relief of Lahey. He pitched a strong three innings, unfortunately the only two hits he surrendered in his outing came around to score in the ninth.

Lewis finishes the season 27-30.