May 12, 2001

Box Score

Detroit, Mich. - The UIC baseball team split a Saturday afternoon twinbill with the Detroit Titans, taking game one, 9-5, before falling in the nightcap, 1-0.

After belting out nine runs on 11 hits in the first game, the Flames' bats fell quiet in game two as they managed only a pair of hits while being shutout for just the third time this season. The last time UIC failed to score at least one run in an outing was on April 21 when the Butler Bulldogs handed it a 2-0 defeat.

In game one, UIC (29-26, 12-7 MCC) jumped on top 3-0 as third baseman Bob Rosinski got things started after two outs with a single up the middle. Designated hitter Weber Bowen followed with a single to right that skipped past Detroit right fielder Tim Andrezjak for an extra base, allowing Rosinski to score from first. Bowen then touched home as right fielder J.P. Moran blasted his third home run of the year over the right field fence, giving the Flames a 3-0 lead.

In the second frame, UIC upped its lead to 4-0 when a walk to rookie shortstop Mike Bruszer came back to haunt Titans' starter Omar Diaz as back-to-back singles by second baseman John Rosner and first baseman Chris Kerpan scored the run.

Detroit answered in the bottom of the second with its first two runs of the series to cut UIC's lead in half, 4-2, as it used a pair of doubles and a triple to key the rally.

After adding one run in the third, the Titans then knotted the game at 4-4 in the fourth when Mike Malley, who reached on his second single of the afternoon, moved over to third on a sacrifice hit and groundout and then stole home.

UIC, however, regained the lead in the fifth and would not trail again. Bowen and Moran strung together back-to-back singles to get things started and then UDM shortstop Mike Malley misplayed a Kyle Robinson hit, which allowed Bowen to score. A double by catcher Kevin Nelson did more damage as it drove in Moran and Robinson for a 7-4 Flames lead.

The Titans cut it to 7-5 in the fifth before UIC upped its lead to 9-5 on a pair of runs in the sixth, which would be the game's final margin.

Larry Banks, working in relief of starter Nick Worm, tossed the final 5 1/3 innings en route to his fifth win of the year. The sophomore righty surrendered seven hits, three walks and three earned runs while striking out four.

In the nightcap, the game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when Detroit was able to manufacture the game's first run. Ryan Rumberger drilled a single through the right side of the infield and then had Matt Corbett pinch run for him. Corbett moved to second on a balk by Flames' starter Wes Gilliam and advanced on to third on a sacrifice bunt.

Corbett then scored on a fielding miscue by Flames' left fielder Chuck Peters when a routine fly ball that would have ended the inning popped out of his glove.

UIC threatened in the top of the fifth when Peters and Bowen led off with back-to-back singles, but Detroit starter Jason Horvat was able to retire the next three Flames' batters to thwart a rally.

Gilliam, despite a stellar effort on the mound, suffered his fifth loss of the year. The junior lefty gave up just six scattered hits and the one unearned run while striking out a pair. Horvat, who allowed just four baserunners in the game, improves to 3-5 with the win.

UIC and Detroit will wrap up its four-game series Sunday afternoon starting at 12:30 p.m. (EST).