May 21, 2000

Box Score

Dayton, Ohio- Needing just one win on Sunday to claim the 2000 American Family Insurance MCC Baseball Tournament title and advance to its first-ever NCAA Regional, UIC dropped both of its games on Sunday to Butler, who rallied behind Jeremy Sinsabaugh to capture the league crown.

The Bulldogs took the first game 6-2, then claimed the tournament championship with a 4-2 come-from-behind win in the second contest of the day.

Sinsabaugh, who was named tournament MVP, hit a pair of home runs on the day and delivered his biggest blow in the eighth inning of the second game as he launched a two-out, three-run, homer that erased a 2-1 UIC advantage. For the day, Sinsabugh was 4-for-7 at the plate with five RBI and four runs scored.

In the deciding second game, the Flames took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning as Joe Schicker scored on a throwing error after a single by Curtis Granderson, who advanced to third on the play and was later plated on a bunt by John Rosner.

In game one, freshman right-hander Pat Neshek tossed a complete game three hitter, as he led Butler to a 6-2 win over UIC.

Butler got on the board with a pair of runs in the top of the first. After UIC responded with a run in the bottom of the first on an RBI groundout by Sean McNichols, Butler's Jeremy Sinsabaugh launched a two-run home run, his sixth of the season, in the top of the fourth to make the count 4-1.

UIC threatened in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth. After an RBI single by Curtis Granderson made the score 4-2, Neshek responsed by striking out John Rosner and inducing McNichols to fly out to center to end the threat.

Following the tournament, UIC's Bob Rosinski, J.P. Moran and Nick Worm were named to the MCC All-Tournament Team.

UIC finishes the season with a record of 33-26, matching the school record for single-season victories.

2000 American Family Insurance MCC All-Tournament Team
Catcher:            Chris Grimm, Wright State
First Base:         Justin Keever, Butler
Second Base:        Keith Lillash, Cleveland State
Shortstop:          Scott Gillitzer, UW-Milwaukee
Third Base:         Bob Rosinski, UIC
Designated Hitter:  Lance Links, Butler
Outfielders:        Jeremy Sinsabaugh, Butler                    J.P. Moran, UIC                    Luke Murphy, Butler
Pitchers:           Nick Worm, UIC, Neal Walther, Butler
Most Valuable Player:  Jeremy Sinsabaugh, Butler