Box Score  / Box Score (pdf)

Springfield, Mo. – The Lewis University baseball team scored six runs in the top of the eighth inning to defeat Drury, 11-8, on Thursday (May 16) at Meador Field in the NCAA Division II Baseball Midwest Regional.
 
The Flyers, improving to 32-16 on the season, will take on Grand Valley State at 7 PM on Friday (May 17). The Panthers fall to 38-16 on the season.
 
“It was a hard fought game as both teams battled back and forth,” Lewis head baseball coach Tim McDonough said. “I am proud of the way we responded to come from behind and walk away with a win.”
 
The Flyers headed into the top of the eighth down 8-5, after Drury scored five runs in the home half of the seventh inning. Juniors Ben Albano (West Dundee, Ill./Jacobs) and Kyle Kapka (Mount Prospect, Ill./Prospect) both singled to get on, while senior Brian Norwood (Medinah, Ill./Lake Park) drew a walk to load the bases. Senior Kevin Ryan (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) drew a pinch-hit walk to score Albano.
 
After a strikeout, junior Alex Slaby (Davenport, Iowa/Davenport West) reached first on a fielder's choice as the runners all moved up a base and Kapka scored. Junior Drew Buddle (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) hit a RBI-single as Norwood and pinch runner J.C. Burrell (Cottage Grove, Minn./Park) scored as the Flyers retook the lead, 9-8. With two outs, senior Michael Schroeder (Crown Point, Ind./North Newton) got on base with a single and scored Buddle from second. Junior Jake Murray (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) scored the Flyers' sixth run of the inning on a wild pitch.
 
Buddle, Kapka and Schroeder all went 3-for-5 at the plate, with Schroeder picking up four RBI and Murray scoring three runs. Albano scored the first run of the game with a solo home run to left field in the second inning.
 
Junior hurler Kendall Paluch (Joliet, Ill./Joliet Catholic) was credited with the win after getting the third out in the seventh inning. Senior pitcher Matt Frahm (McLean, Ill./Olympia) threw a scoreless eighth and ninth inning in relief to pick up his first save of the season. Frahm struck out two and walked one.
 
Lewis junior starter Tom Helwich (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln Way Central) threw 6.2 innings, giving up eight runs on 12 hits. Helwich also struck out five and walked one.
 
Drury's Laurent Zenoni (2-2) took the loss after throwing 0.2 of an inning, giving up two runs, one earned, on one hit. He struck out and walked one.