ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Lewis University's baseball team dropped its series finale to Wayne State (Mich.) 6-5 on Sunday afternoon at Brennan Field. The Flyers fall to 19-23-1 while the Warriors improve to 33-15.
Wayne State jumped out to the early lead with a run in the third inning. Jacob Badalementi led off with a single down the left field line, stole second and scored on Hunter Delanoy's single up the middle.
The Warriors added to their lead in the fourth as they sent nine batters to the plate scoring five runs on four hits. Jacob Finkbeiner extended the lead with a solo home run to left center to make it 2-0. Badalamenti drove in Davis Graham with a single to right, Delanoy drove in two with a single to center and Chris Tandrys capped the scoring with a single to right.
Lewis got two runs back in its half of the fourth.
David Ascencio (Joliet, Ill./Plainfield Central) drove in the first run with a double down to the left field that scored
Angelo Cantelo (Blue Island, Ill./Marian Catholic).
Michael Alt (Kimberly, Wis./Kimberly) scored on a passed ball to make it 6-2.
The Flyers crept closer in the sixth on
Gavin Kriegel's (Hampshire, Ill./Hampshire) solo homer to left center with two out.
Lewis scored two runs on three hits in the seventh to get within a run.
Jason Krol (Chicago, Ill./St. Laurence) drove in
Patrick Keaty (South Elgin, Ill./South Elgin) and
Joe Preusser (Orland Park, Ill./Brother Rice) with a single to right. The Flyers had the tying run at third but Alt was retired on a high chopper to third to end the inning.
Lewis had the tying and go-ahead runs on base with one out in the eighth but a fly out to right and a strikeout ended the threat.
The Flyers had another chance in the ninth putting the tying and winning runs on base but a strikeout ended the game.
Lewis outhit Wayne State 11-7 in the contest and were led by Fox and Warren with two hits apiece. Krol drove in two runs while Ascencio and Kriegel drove in one each.
The Flyers used seven pitchers in the contest. Lewis' final three pitchers of
Ben Davis (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport Township),
Matt Helwig (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) and
Jake Lotz (Palos Hills, Ill./St. Laurence) held the Warriors to just one hit while striking out nine and walking only two in the final four innings to give the Flyers a chance to win.
Anthony Sorrentino (Burr Ridge, Ill./Lyons Township) (2-2) got the start on the hill and allowed a run on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts in his three innings pitched.
Lewis returns to the diamond this Thursday (May 12) against Maryville at 12:30 p.m. at the Lou Brock Sports Complex on the campus of Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo.