ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Lewis University's baseball team split its non-conference doubleheader against Wayne State on Saturday afternoon at Brennan Field. The Flyers dropped the opener 14-0 but won the nightcap 2-1. Lewis moves to 19-22-1 while the Warriors are 32-15.
Game 1 – Wayne State 14 Lewis 0
It was all Wayne State from the start as they scored five in the first inning sending ten batters to the plate. The inning was highlighted by an infield RBI single by Michael Maclean to score the first run followed by an error from the first baseman to make the score 2-0. The Warriors drew three straight bases loaded walks to make the score 5-0.
The Warriors scored one in the third on Hunter Delanoy's RBI single to right field and two runs in the fourth innings highlighted by Noah Miller's RBI single to left field. Wayne State added three in the fifth and three more in the seventh for the final margin
The Warriors out hit the Flyers 12-2 and were led by Delanoy with three hits. Lewis' hits came from
Cain Headrick (Custer Park, Ill./Providence Catholic) and
Michael Alt (Kimberly, Wis./Kimberly).
Jake Karaba (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) (1-5) took the loss for the Flyers giving up five unearned runs on one hit and five walks while striking out one in 0.1 innings pitched. Ryan Korolden (7-1) picked up the win for Wayne State pitching all seven innings giving up just two hits and a walk while striking out six.
Game 2 – Lewis 2 Wayne State 1
Lewis struck first in game two scoring one run on two hits in the bottom of the third inning.
Patrick Keaty (South Elgin, Ill./South Elgin) led off with a hustle double down the left field line followed by an RBI single to right field by
Joe Preusser (Orland Park, Ill./Brother Rice) to make it 1-0 after three innings.
The Flyers added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth scoring a run on two hits. Alt led off with a single up the middle and later stole second in the following at bat. Cherokee LeBeau singled through the right side to put runners on the corners.
Gavin Kriegel's (Hampshire, Ill./Hampshire) sacrifice flyout to deep left field scored Alt from third to give Lewis a 2-0 lead.
Wayne State closed the gap in the top of the sixth scoring one run on two hits and an error. A single and a walk put runners on first and second for the Warriors and with two outs Jacob Badalamenti's bunt single and an error by the pitcher allowed Jacob Finkbeiner to score from second.
The Warriors threatened in the top of the seventh as they loaded the bases after two quick outs by
Jake Lotz (Palos Hills, Ill./St. Laurence). Lotz struck out Noah Miller to end the game to preserve the 2-1 win for Lewis.
The Flyers had eight hits in the second game led by LeBeau and Kriegel with two apiece. Keaty, Preusser,
Kevin Barry (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) and
Angelo Cantelo (Blue Island, Ill./Marian Catholic) all had one hit each.
Jonathon Hanscom (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein) (4-3) picked up the win giving up one unearned run on one hit and two walks while striking out three in 2.1 innings of work. Lotz picked his second save of the season pitching 1.2 innings giving up just one hit and striking out three in relief. Seth Marano (3-3) took the loss giving up two runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings pitched.
Lewis and Wayne State wrap up their three-game series with a single game on Sunday afternoon at noon. The Flyers will honor their seven seniors prior to the start of Sunday's contest.
