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ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Saint Xavier used three ninth inning runs to defeat Lewis baseball 8-6 on Thursday (April 14) evening at Brennan Field in a non-conference contest.

The Flyers entered the ninth ahead 6-5. Saint Xavier's Ryan Pellack opened the inning with a single. He scored on the next play when a sacrifice bunt attempt essentially turned into a triple after a throwing error by the Flyers. The single and error set up a three-run inning for the Cougars to earn the come from behind win.

Lewis was up 3-0 when Saint Xavier tied the game with a three-run fifth. It didn't stay tied for long as the Flyers put two runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a two-out, two-RBI single by junior Brandon Collins (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln Way North).

A solo home run by senior Joe Sparacio (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) in the sixth extended Lewis' lead to 6-3. It would be the Flyers' final run of the game. The Cougars scored once in the seventh and once in the eighth to set up the three-run ninth.

Sparacio finished with four hits. Senior Chris Pikoulas (Frankfort, Ill./Carl Sandburg) had three hits.      

The Flyers held a 16-14 edge in hits. Each of Saint Xavier's 14 hits were singles. Sparacio's home run and a double by senior Cory Starnes (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) were Lewis' only extra base hits.

Anthony Chimera gave up just one hit in two innings to earn the win for Saint Xavier. He is 2-0. Senior Phil Warner (South Elgin, Ill./St. Charles North) is now 0-2 after suffering the loss for the Flyers.

Lewis falls to 17-12. Saint Xavier improves to 15-18. The Flyers are back in action on Saturday (April 16) in a noon conference doubleheader at home against Saint Joseph's.