ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Lewis baseball was swept by Quincy on Sunday afternoon 5-4 and 5-2. Lewis led 4-2 in the eighth inning of game one and 2-0 in the sixth inning of game two only to see Quincy rally in both contests.
Lewis' bats came out on fire in the first inning of game one, scoring three runs. Sophomore Brian Norwood (Medinah, Ill./Lake Park) (Medinah, Ill./Lake Park) had a two-RBI single in the frame. Senior Andrew Brauer (Bolingbrook, Ill./Montini) (Bolingbrook, Ill./Montini/College of DuPage) knocked in a run in the inning also. The Flyers added one in the third on an RBI single by freshman Ben Albano (West Dundee, Ill./Jacobs) (West Dundee, Ill./Jacobs). It gave Lewis a 4-0 lead. Quincy scored one in the fourth, one in the sixth and then the three spot in the eighth to take the lead.
Freshman Tom Helwich (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln Way Central) (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln Way Central) earned a no-decision. He went 6.0 innings, allowing six hits and two runs while striking out five Quincy batters. Senior Matt Zicher (Arlington Heights, Ill./Hersey) (Arlington Heights, Ill./Hersey/Triton) took the loss in 1.1 innings of relief work. Zicher falls to 2-1.
The Flyers scored both of their game two runs in the second inning. Freshman Kyle Thomas (Homer Glen, Ill./Providence Catholic) (Homer Glen, Ill./Providence Catholic) homered to center field with one out. Freshman Drew Buddle (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) followed with an infield single and advanced to third on a throwing error by the Quincy pitcher. He scored on the next play, an RBI sacrifice fly by senior Ryan Koerner (LeRoy, Ill./LeRoy) (LeRoy, Ill./LeRoy).
It stayed 2-0 until the top of the sixth. A two-out double by Quincy's Justin Dunning plated two runs to tie it. Quincy added three more runs with two outs to take a 5-2 advantage.
The Flyers threatened in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with no outs. Helwich entered the game as a pinch hitter and hit a rocket up the middle. Unfortunately the Quincy shortstop made a jumping grab and doubled off Lewis' runner at second. The next batter flew out to end the threat.
Senior Joey Gradney (Rantoul, Ill./Rantoul) (Rantoul, Ill./Rantoul/Cleveland State) started and went 5.2 innings, giving up six hits and five runs. His record falls to 1-1.
“We talk about team wins when we win, and these losses today were team losses,” head coach Tim McDonough said. “We didn't make plays or pitches when we had opportunities and Quincy did.”
The wins improve Quincy to 5-8 (2-0 Great Lakes Valley Conference). Lewis falls to 9-5 (2-2 GLVC).
Lewis is next in action on Wednesday with a non-conference doubleheader at Upper Iowa.
Lewis University is a Catholic university offering distinctive undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 6,000 traditional and adult students. Lewis offers multiple campus locations, online degree programs, and a variety of formats that provide accessibility and convenience to a growing student population. Sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis prepares ethically grounded, globally aware, and socially responsible graduates. The ninth largest not-for-profit university in Illinois, Lewis has been nationally recognized by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. Visit www.lewisu.edu for further information.
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