March 1, 2008
Box Score
Waco, Texas- Four unearned runs in Baylor's half of the seventh inning wiped out the UIC baseball team's two-run lead, and the Flames' ninth-inning comeback attempt came up just short in a 5-4 loss to the 13th-ranked Bears on the second day of the QTI Baylor Classic on Saturday night.
UIC (1-4) went ahead quickly when Steve McGuiggan led off the game with a homer over Baylor Ballpark's left centerfield wall.
The Flames added a two-spot in their half of the fifth. Tony Altavilla hit a two-out, two-run single to extend UIC's advantage to 3-0.
Right-hander Derrick Miramontes was sharp in his second Division I start, allowing just one hit and one run before he was relieved after walking two straight batters with two outs in the sixth and the Flames ahead 3-1.
A throwing error charged to Jason Ganek on a ball hit by the first hitter of the seventh opened the floodgates for Baylor (6-0). A walk, a sac bunt and a single cut UIC's lead to 3-2, and two batters later Ben Booker hit a two-run triple off of Chris Kovacevich with two away to push the Bears ahead by a run.
Another RBI single allowed Baylor to go up 5-3.
The Flames mounted a late two-out comeback in the top of the ninth. Chris Rutta singled and moved to second on an error after Ganek hit into a fielder's choice. McGuiggan then hit a single up the middle that plated Rutta and cut UIC's deficit to a single run.
McGuiggan and Ganek moved up a base after Nick Cassavechia unleashed a wild pitch during his duel with Ty Rubio, putting both the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position. Rubio hit a sharp grounder to first that needed a great play to get the out, and first baseman Adam Hornung provided just that to end the game.
Kovacevich was charged with the loss, the second time this season that the left-handed reliever has taken a defeat due to unearned runs in a late inning.
McGuiggan finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored.
UIC concludes the QTI Baylor Classic on Sunday morning against sister school Illinois. The Flames send right-hander Mike Kool to the mound to face Fighting Illini righty Aaron Martin at 11 a.m. Central.
