Game 1 Box / Game 1 Box (PDF)
Game 2 Box / Game 2 Box (PDF)

KENOSHA, Wis. – Lewis baseball already knew they were in the 2011 Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament entering Tuesday's regular season finale at UW-Parkside. However Lewis' seed was still up in the air. Two wins over the Rangers and Lewis would be the fifth seed. One loss and the Flyers drop to the seventh seed. The Flyers picked up those two wins, both by an 8-4 score, to earn the fifth seed and can now turn their attention to the GLVC Tournament which starts on Thursday.

Lewis jumped out to an 8-0 lead in game one after the first three and half innings. Following a sacrifice fly in the first inning by freshman Kyle Thomas (Homer Glen, Ill./Providence Catholic) (Homer Glen, Ill./Providence Catholic), Lewis added five runs in the second inning. The big hit was a two-out, three-run home run by junior Andrew Brauer (Bolingbrook, Ill./Montini) (Bolingbrook, Ill./Montini/College of DuPage). Brauer then had a two-run single in the fourth inning to make it 8-0. Brauer finished with five RBI, and just a triple short of the cycle.

"We started fast in game one and had a good approach offensively," head coach Tim McDonough said. "Andrew's home run was huge and gave us some momentum."

Brauer, senior Richard Forkin (Orland Park, Ill./Lockport) (Orland Park, Ill./Lockport) and sophomore Derek Thomas (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy) (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy) each had three hits in the game. Lewis had 18 total hits to UW-Parkside's five.

Senior Matt Zicher (Arlington Heights, Ill./Hersey) (Arlington Heights, Ill./Hersey/Triton) started on the mound and earned the victory to improve his record to 4-1. He went 5.0 innings, giving up just two hits and one run.

"Matt pitched very well with the lead and the bullpen did it's job," McDonough said."

The Rangers scored four runs to cut the lead in half, but couldn't get any closer after leaving three runners on in the seventh and two in the eighth.

The Flyers would take game two by the same 8-4 score, but Lewis had to rally to do it. The Rangers scored four unearned runs in the first inning to grab a quick advantage. They would be the Rangers' only runs of the game as the Lewis bullpen took over from there. Junior Jim Glasgow (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South/Joliet JC) did most of the work, throwing 4.1 scoreless innings to earn his first career decision.

"We came out flat defensively in game two and lost focus," McDonough said. "But the guys responded well in coming back and didn't panic. Jimmy was outstanding and allowed the offense to get going."

Lewis took the lead with six runs in the third inning. Five of the six runs scored with two outs. Seniors Miguel Amesquita (Hometown, Ill./Brother Rice) (Hometown, Ill./Brother Rice/Triton) and Mike Vucsko (Evergreen Park, Ill./Marist) (Evergreen Park, Ill./Marist) each earned two-out bases loaded walks to cut the lead to 4-3. Senior Ryan Koerner (LeRoy, Ill./LeRoy) (LeRoy, Ill./LeRoy) came up next. He saw a pitch to his liking and doubled to clear the bases.

Lewis added two runs to make the final 8-4 on a two-RBI double by senior Tyler Newsome (Palos Heights, Ill./Marist) (Palos Heights, Ill./Marist/South Suburban CC) in the fourth.

"These were two good team wins heading into the tournament," McDonough said.

UW-Parkside ends their season 15-28 (12-20 GLVC). Lewis improves to 23-16 (16-12 GLVC). The Flyers end the regular season with the most GLVC victories since 1997.

Lewis is the No. 5 seed in the GLVC Tournament and will play No. 4 seed Quincy on Thursday at noon at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Ill.