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YPSILANTI, Mich. – No. 6 seed Lewis baseball dropped the first game of the 2012 NCAA Midwest Regional to No. 17 nationally and No. 1 seed Indianapolis 2-1 on Thursday (May 17) morning at Oestrike Stadium on the campus of Eastern Michigan University.
 
Indianapolis starter and Great Lakes Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year Donovan Drake vexed Lewis' hitters for most of the day. He allowed four hits, two walks and just an unearned run in the ninth. Drake also struck out nine Flyers in his complete game effort to move his record to 8-2. It was a stark contrast to the four first inning runs the Flyers hung on Drake a week earlier in the GLVC Tournament.
 
Lewis senior starter Pat Lahey (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) was on his game for the Flyers also. He went all 8.0 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on eight hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Lahey falls to 5-6.
 
“Pat threw the ball outstanding and anytime you give up two runs in a nine inning game you have to feel like you have a chance to win,” Lewis head coach Tim McDonough said.

The Flyers scored their only run of the game in the ninth inning when a two-out fly ball by junior Michael Schroeder (Crown Point, Ind./North Newton) (Crown Point, Ind./North Newton/Triton) to left field was dropped by UIndy's Ryan Wides. It scored sophomore Drew Buddle (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin). It put runners at first and third with two outs for sophomore Kyle Kapka (Mount Prospect, Ill./Prospect) (Mount Prospect, Ill./Prospect). However Kapka struck out swinging to end the game.
 
The Greyhounds scored the first run of the game in the third. Mike Page blooped a single to right that scored Wides from second. UIndy's second run came unearned in the sixth on a sacrifice fly.
 
Before the ninth, Lewis had their best scoring chance in the top of the seventh. Sophomore Drew Buddle (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) singled to lead off the inning. However with one out he was picked off first after breaking to second for a moment on a pitch that bounced to the plate. Sophomore Ben Albano (West Dundee, Ill./Jacobs) (West Dundee, Ill./Jacobs) walked, but the inning ended on a deep fly out by Schroeder to right field.

“We had our opportunities but didn't execute,” McDonough said. “Drake is an outstanding pitcher but our guys know him really well and I didn't think our approach at the plate was up to our standards today.”
 
UIndy held an 8-4 edge in hits. The Greyhounds left eight runners on while Lewis left five Flyers on base. Buddle was the only Flyer with multiple hits in the game thanks to a pair of singles.

Indianapolis improves to 43-14. Lewis falls to 33-21. The Flyers will now have to win out the rest of the way to earn the Midwest Region title.

“The guys have done a good job this year of answering the bell when called upon,” McDonough said. “I anticipate our guys coming out with a lot of energy and enthusiasm.”

Lewis will try to keep their season alive on Friday against the loser of No. 2 seed Grand Valley State and No. 5 seed Rockhurst. Friday's game will start at 11 a.m. ET.