March 14, 2009
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
CHICAGO- Brett Schaefer hit a go-ahead three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the eighth as the UIC baseball team defeated Northwestern, 4-3, to split a pair of one-run games with the Wildcats at Les Miller Field on Saturday.
Northwestern edged the Flames in the twinbill opener, 2-1, despite a complete-game gem from UIC starter Chris Kovacevich.
The Flames are now 2-11 on the year, while Northwestern is 4-10.
Game Two: UIC 4, Northwestern 3
UIC trailed by as many as three runs until Schaefer hit the decisive blast with two on and two out in the bottom of the eighth during the Flames' 4-3 victory in Saturday's second game.
Derrick Miramontes tossed 3.2 innings of scoreless one-hit relief to get the win.
Andy Leonard went 3-for-5 at the dish, while Brandon Harwell hit an RBI single in the seventh that put the Flames on the board and set up Schaefer's game-winning heroics.
UIC starter Mike Kool and Northwestern starter Zach Morton engaged in a pitchers' duel during the game's first five innings, as both tossed shutout ball during that span.
But the Wildcats went on to score all three of their runs in the sixth inning to chase Kool after he could only record one out. Chris Lashmet struck the big blow with a two-run single, and Leonard dropped a throw from Kool on what appeared to be a double-play ball hit back to the mound, eventually leading to an unearned run a few batters later.
The Flames loaded the bases in the bottom half of the sixth. Steve McGuiggan took a good whack at Morton's two-out offering but ended up flying out to center to end the threat.
UIC scored its first run of the game in the seventh on Harwell's single to left center to get within two.
In the eighth McGuiggan took a one-out walk, and two batters later Leonard singled to put runners at the corners for Schaefer, who had pinch hit for Tony Altavilla in the previous inning. Schaefer swung at the second pitch he saw from Matt Havey and deposited it over the left field fence for a three-run shot, quickly turning a two-run disadvantage into a one-run lead.
Miramontes pitched a perfect ninth to end the game and the Flames' five-game skid.
Game One: Northwestern 2, UIC 1
Kovacevich allowed just two unearned runs and scattered seven hits during the first complete game of his collegiate career, but those two runs were all Northwestern needed as the Wildcats held off a late UIC rally to win Saturday's opener, 2-1.
Northwestern starter Joe Muraski kept the Flames' bats at bay for most of the game, scattering seven hits and allowing just one run before departing with one out in the ninth.
Northwestern scored both of its runs in the game's first two innings.
Schaefer was charged with a fielding error at first on a grounder hit by Jake Goebbert in the contest's opening frame, putting runners at first and third for Tony Vercelli. Vercelli hit a grounder to second that plated the game's first run.
The first two Wildcat hitters of the second inning singled, and one out later Leonard misplayed what might have been a double-play ground ball at short to load the bases. Trevor Stevens, who drove in five runs in yesterday's game, tacked on another RBI to his credit with a sacrifice fly to center that was actually a close play at the plate. McGuiggan corralled the catch and threw home to catcher Nathan Orf, who appeared to have the ball ahead of the sliding Kenneth Avila but eventually had it escape his mitt.
UIC mounted its comeback in that final inning, as Jason Ganek led off with a double off Muraski and came home two batters later on Orf's RBI single. Muraski gave way for Brian Morgan, who induced a groundout by McGuiggan that put the tying run at second. Ty Rubio was hit by the second pitch he saw from Morgan to put the winning run aboard, but Leonard grounded out to third to end the game.
UIC welcomes another Big Ten foe to Les Miller Field as Purdue meets the Flames this Tuesday, March 17 at 4:05 p.m. The first 200 fans will receive a limited edition green UIC baseball cap compliments of UIC Athletics.
