Baseball loses two one-run contests

Written by: Jeremy Williamson, Sports Information Student Assistant

LISLE, Ill. -- The Pioneer baseball team dropped a pair of one-run contests to the Eagles of Benedictine University on Saturday, 7-6 and 5-4.

Over the course of the two-game day, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville men batted a team total 17-71 and were struck out 24 times at the plate, but the Pioneer pitchers only gave up six earned runs out of 12.

The most consistent batter was right fielder Evan Greco who went 4-9 and earned three RBIs and one run on the day.

The first contest started with the Pioneers earning two runs, as Greco tallied his first RBI driving in teammate Casey Schroeder off a single up the middle, followed by third baseman George Jester III driving in Greco to take a 2-0 Pioneer lead in the top of the first inning.

The Eagles responded diligently as they racked up three runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead back, 3-2.

Benedictine continued their offensive surge as they tallied four more runs through the next five innings to take a 7-2 lead heading into the seventh.

With bases loaded in the top of the seventh, Kyle Reinhart grounded into a double play, but was able to advance Todd Wienkes to third and teammate Zack Iverson snuck into home for the unearned run and a chance at a comeback. On the next at-bat Greco earned his second RBI with a double, sending Wienkes home and capping off the inning, 7-4. 

In the top of the eighth inning, third baseman Johny Frese drove one up the middle for a single and an RBI, bringing in pinch runner James Pavlik. Iverson was then able to advance Frese to second on fielder's choice, followed by Wienkes reaching first on an infield error. Schroeder then poked one up the middle to bring in Frese for the last score of the game, as they were unable to capitalize in the next inning with two runners on in the top of the ninth, 7-6.

The following contest took three innings before any runs were tallied until the Eagles took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third followed by a one run fourth inning to jump out 3-0.

The Pioneers scored the next four runs through four innings to take their first lead of the game in the top of the eighth, 4-3.

After Jester reached first on a walk, it was Frese again who advanced his teammate to second with a single to center field. Following a hit to Schroeder, which filled the bases, Colin DeBoer earned two RBIs with a double up the infield line driving in Frese and Jester, to take the 4-3 lead heading into the ninth.

The Pioneers were unable to hold the Eagles off, as they rallied for two runs and the victory in the bottom of the ninth, 5-4.

Deboer led the Pioneers at the plate for the contest, going 3-4 with one run and two RBIs, while Austin Daniels earned the loss giving up five hits and two unearned runs through 4.2 innings pitched.

Weather permitting, the Pioneers will return home on Tuesday to face off against Edgewood beginning at 3 P.M.