Box Score 1 | Box Score 2  / Game One Box Score (pdf) | Game Two Box Score (pdf)

Romeoville, Ill. – The Lewis University baseball team bounced back to win the night cap, 4-3, over Illinois Springfield on Friday (April 11) after dropping the first game 12-11 in 10 innings at Brennan Field.
 
The Flyers move to 17-15 on the year and 10-9 in Great Lakes Valley Conference action, while the Prairie Stars go to 19-13 on the season and 11-9 in league play.
 
"We had the first game in hand and just let it slip away late," Lewis head baseball coach Tim McDonough said. "To come back in the second game the way we did speaks to the guys' toughness.
 
"I am really proud of the guys coming back and getting the second game."
 
The Flyers got on the board first in the second game, scoring three runs on three hits and one UIS miscue. Seniors Alex Slaby (Davenport, Iowa/Davenport West) and Drew Buddle (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) had back-to-back one-out singles before junior Kane Lombardo (Forest Park, Ill./Nazareth), pinch running for Slaby, advanced and scored on two wild pitches. Buddle scored as senior Ben Albano (West Dundee, Ill./Jacobs) reached base on an error for the second Flyer run. Jake Murray (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) crossed the plate on a single by sophomore Austin Mastela (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport) to give Lewis a 3-0 lead.
 
UIS answered in the top of the fourth with three runs on three hits and a Lewis miscue.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Albano scored on a sacrifice fly by Mastela for the 4-3 advantage.

Lewis game two starter Kendall Paluch (Joliet, Ill./Joliet Catholic) picked up the win throwing a complete game. Paluch (2-5) gave up three runs, two earned, on five hits, while striking out seven batters.
 
UIS starter James Matson (1-1) took the loss, giving up one run on two hits after only retiring one batter in the fifth.
 
UIS' Luke Stuwart opened the first game with a solo shot to right field.

Albano answered with a two-run home run in the bottom of first inning before Mastela scored on a double by sophomore Joe Sparacio (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) to give the Flyers a 3-1 lead.
 
In the second inning, sophomore Joel Rotkvich (Crestwood, Ill./St. Laurence) crossed the plate on a single by Buddle. Murray singled in Slaby, before Albano doubled in Buddle for a 6-1 Lewis lead. The Flyers added two more runs in the frame for an 8-1 advantage.
 
UIS cut into Lewis' lead in the top of the fourth, scoring two runs on two hits, before adding three runs in the fifth on three hits to get within 8-6.
 
Lewis pushed their lead back to three runs at 10-6 in the bottom of the sixth when Mastela collected two RBI as Albano and Murray scored on his double. The Flyers scratched a run across in the seventh when Mastela singled in Slaby.
 
The Prairie Stars tacked on two runs on two hits and a Flyer miscue in the top of the seventh and three more runs in the eighth to tie the game at 11-11.
 
The Flyers threatened in the bottom of the ninth, getting two singles with two outs but both runners were left stranded.
 
UIS tallied the game winning run in the top of the 10^th on two hits and a Flyer miscue.
 
Lewis reliever Nick Davito (Crest Hill, Ill./Lockport) was credited with the loss after 2.2 innings pitched. Davito (0-1) gave up one unearned run on four hits and struck out two.
 
UIS' Kyle Schildroth (4-1) collected the win, throwing three innings of relief, striking out three.
 
The Flyers and Prairie Stars meet for a 1 PM doubleheader on Saturday (April 12) at Brennan Field.
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