WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – If sophomore
Tom Durkin (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) was nervous for his first career start on Tuesday (March 6) afternoon against Maryville he sure didn't show it. Durkin didn't allow a run in seven innings to help the Flyers defeat the Saints 6-0 in a non-conference contest.
Durkin allowed just three hits with no walks and three strikeouts in seven shutout innings. It earned him his first collegiate victory.
“Tommy took advantage of an opportunity today,” Lewis head coach
Tim McDonough said. “He kept the ball down and let his defense do some work thanks to a couple double plays. He was in control from the first pitch which was great to see.”
A pair of freshmen pitched scoreless innings to help preserve the shutout. Freshman
Mike Devoe (Cary, Ill./Cary Grove) (Cary, Ill./Cary Grove) pitched the eighth and freshman
Phil Warner (South Elgin, Ill./St. Charles North) (South Elgin, Ill./St. Charles North) threw the ninth.
Lewis took the lead with a single run in the second. The Flyers added a pair of runs in the fourth and fifth and then a lone run in the seventh.
Junior
Michael Schroeder (Crown Point, Ind./North Newton) (Crown Point, Ind./North Newton/Triton) and sophomore
Drew Buddle (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) each drove in two runs. Sophomore
Kyle Huber (Chicago, Ill./Lane Tech) (Chicago, Ill./Lane Tech) was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Seniors
Mike Bolling (Chicago, Ill./Guerin Prep) (Chicago, Ill./Guerin Prep/Triton) and
Andrew Brauer (Bolingbrook, Ill./Montini) (Bolingbrook, Ill./Montini/College of DuPage) each had two hits while Brauer stole two bases.
“We came out with a good approach at the plate and our situational hitting was much better than it has been,” McDonough said. “We were aggressive on the bases and while scoring six runs is great it was nice to see us score in four different innings.”
Lewis improves to 3-1. The Saints fall to 2-5.
The Flyers are off on Wednesday before returning to diamond on Thursday against No. 6 Grand Valley State. First pitch is 10:30 a.m. ET.
