Box Score

Nashville, Tenn. – The Lewis University baseball team collected 15 hits, including three doubles, in their 9-7 victory over Union University on Saturday (Feb. 22) at Jackson Field in the Alan Smith Classic hosted by Trevecca Nazarene University.
 
The Flyers improve to 1-1 on the year while the Bulldogs fall to 4-5 on the season.
 
"It is good to get that first win of the season," Lewis head baseball coach Tim McDonough said. "Up and down the line-up our hitters bounced back after yesterday's loss."
 
Union took a quick lead with a solo blast in the first inning. The Flyers came back with two runs in the bottom the second inning. Junior Mike Barajas (Chicago, Ill./Nazareth) picked up senior Kyle Kapka (Mount Prospect, Ill./Prospect) with a sacrifice fly before Joel Rotkvich (Crestwood, Ill./St. Laurence) singled through the left side of the filed to score classmate Austin Mastela (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport).
 
The Bulldogs connected two hits, including a double, in the third inning to even the score at 2-all, but the Flyers quickly answered with back-to-back doubles from junior Mark Kornacker (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) and senior Jake Murray (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North), who had three hits on the day, to take back the lead, 3-2. Sophomore Brandon Collins (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln Way North) singled in Murray and senior Ben Albano (West Dundee, Ill./Jacobs) to tack on two more runs later in the inning.
 
Union added two in the fourth and three in the fifth inning to take a 7-5 lead.
 
In the bottom of the fifth inning Lewis added on three runs on two hits, including a double by Mastela, and two Union miscues. In the bottom of the eighth, the Flyers tacked on another run as Mastela batted in Collins for a 9-7 lead.
 
Lewis starter junior Kyle Kosak tossed 3.2 innings, giving up four earned runs on six hits while striking out five. Senior Kegan Banks (Dripping Springs, Texas/Dripping Springs) toss 0.2 innings, giving up three runs, two earned, while walking two and striking out one.
 
Senior Cory Bonner (Dripping Springs, Texas/Dripping Springs) (1-0) tossed 1.2 innings giving up one hit and struck out two of the six batters he faced to get credit for the win.  Brad Elmore (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) and James Holub (Waconda, Ill./Wauconda) both tossed a scoreless inning in relief, collecting two strikeouts before junior Phil Warner (South Elgin, Ill./St. Charles North) picked up a save as he too pitched a scoreless inning.
 
Union's Trae Bain falls to 0-1 on the year as he gave up three unearned runs on four hits and a walk over two innings of relief.
 
The Flyers wrap up play in the Alan Smith Classic on Sunday (Feb. 23) against Ohio Dominican in Nashville, Tenn. First pitch at Jackson Field is set for 12 PM.