SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Lewis baseball split a doubleheader on Sunday (April 12) afternoon to take three-of-four at UIS this weekend. The Flyers won game one 5-3 over the Prairie Stars thanks to a sixth-inning rally and fell in game two 7-3.

Game One – Lewis 5, UIS 3 (HTML Box / PDF Box)
If you charted game one on a FanGraphs.com Win Probability Graph, a pair of two-out extra base hits would have caused the line to dart dramatically in opposite directions.

The first key play came in the bottom of the fifth with Lewis up 1-0. Lewis starter freshman Ryan Fox (Dayton, Ohio/Centerville) had allowed just one hit in the game until a one-out single by UIS. A strikeout and then a second single put Prairie Stars at the corners with two outs. Michael Rothmund entered as a pinch hitter and took the second pitch he saw over the left field wall for a three-run home run.

The Flyers had six outs remaining in the seven-inning game to rally back from the 3-1 deficit. They wasted little time threatening. A single, an error and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth. However a fly out and a pop out followed putting UIS a pitch away from getting out of the jam. Junior Kurt Becker (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) stepped the plate and quickly found himself in an 0-2 hole. After fouling off a pitch he took pitch number four to center field for a bases clearing triple. His hit put Lewis up 4-3. Freshman Ethan Bloom (Schaumburg, Ill./Hoffman Estates) followed with a single to score Becker and provide Lewis with an insurance run.

There would be no third game changing hit in the contest. Sophomore Sam Couch (Bolingbrook, Ill./Joliet Catholic) picked up his third save of the series by closing the door in the seventh. Fox earned the win to move his mark to 3-4. He allowed three runs in 5.2 innings of work with no walks and five strikeouts.

"Game one today was a great team win," Lewis head coach Tim McDonough said. "Ryan gave us a quality start and Sam was efficient as usual. Kurt came through with a huge clutch hit to give us the lead. When we pitch and play good defense we are pretty tough to beat."

UIS starter Max Biedrzycki (2-2) earned the loss, giving up all five runs.

Game Two – UIS 7, Lewis 3 (HTML Box / PDF Box)
The Prairie Stars salvaged a game in the series by leading wire-to-wire in game two after a pair of first inning runs.

Lewis' best chance to even the score came in the third when the freshman Neal Tyrell (Minooka, Ill./Minooka) singled in senior Kane Lombardo (Forest Park, Ill./Nazareth) to make the score 2-1. Junior Brandon Collins (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln Way North) walked to load the bases with one out but a fielder's choice for an out at the plate and a strikeout ended the frame.

UIS added a run in the next half inning and then two more in the fifth to make the score 5-1. Junior Austin Mastela (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport) knocked a home run in the sixth, cutting the deficit to 5-2. However the Flyers left runners on second and third to end the fifth, keeping the Flyers down by three.

Freshman starter Mike Enriquez (Evergreen Park, Ill./Brother Rice) allowed five runs over five innings. He struck out five but suffered the loss. He is now 0-2. UIS starter Matt Farrington picked up the win (3-2) with a six inning outing. Kyle Schildroth threw the final three innings for the save.

"Credit UIS in game two," McDonough said. "We spotted them an early lead and they took advantage of some of our mistakes. We battled back but just came up a little short."

Senior Mike Barajas (Chicago, Ill./Nazareth) finished with three hits. Tyrell added two base knocks.

UIS is now 16-19 (10-12 GLVC). Lewis is 14-17 (9-13 GLVC). The Flyers play a midweek Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader at UW-Parkside on Tuesday. First pitch in southeast Wisconsin is set for noon.