May 26, 2010
Final Stats
Box Score in PDF Format 
GARY, Ind. - A pair of three-run innings doomed the third-seeded UIC baseball team as it fell to the sixth-seeded Youngstown State Penguins in it's opening game of the 2010 Horizon League Baseball Championship, 8-4.
The Peguins (22-32) outhit the Flames (22-29), 15-8, while UIC also committed an uncharacteristic three errors in the ballgame.
The contest started out as a pitcher's duel between starters Brad Riegler and Aaron Swenson. Riegler, who was making his first start of the season following 24 relief appearances threw a season-high 8.1 IP and 114 pitches, but came up as the tough-luck loser on Wednesday as he allowed eight runs, but only four were earned.
UIC threatened first in the second inning, putting runners on first and third with nobody out following back-to-back singles by Nathan Orf and Chris Rutta. Ryan Boss struck out and Joe Betcher hit a check-swing roller to third baseman Jacke Healey who fired home and caught Orf in a rundown for the second out. Andy Leonard then flew out to end the inning.
The Penguins broke up the drought by striking for three runs in the top half of the fifth inning. Second baseman Padraic Williams was walked with one away and stole second base on the first pitch Brad Riegler threw to leadoff man Derek Carr. Carr ripped a sharp ground ball to second base and Matt Serna booted the one-hopper, allowing the game's first run to score.
The Penguins executed a textbook hit-and-run and again stole second base, putting runners on second and third for Horizon League Player of the Year, Tom Clayton. Clayton singled past a drawn-in field to plate two runs and give Youngstown State a 3-0 lead with one out.
Following another single, the third straight for the Penguins, Jeremy Banks looked to add to the lead. Banks lofted a fly ball to left field that Rutta camped under for the second out. Clayton was tagging on the play and a perfect strike from Rutta to catcher Orf cut down the runner by plenty and ended the inning.
The Flames got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth when Steve McGuiggan drew a walk, stole second and moved to third on Matt Serna's single to left. Orf hit a deep fly ball to Clayton in left who was able to track it down. McGuiggan tagged and scored and Serna tried to score all the way from second. He tried to slide under the tag of catcher Anthony Porter, but was called out on a bang-bang play to end the inning at 3-1.
UIC cut into the Youngstown State lead again in the seventh inning, scoring another run off starter Aaron Swenson. Rutta tripled to deep right field to lead off the frame and scored on Boss' sacrifice fly to right, making it 3-2.
The Penguins put another trio of runs on the board and doubled the lead in the top of the eighth. With two away, Carr hit a ground ball to Serna who got to it, but made a throwing error that allowed two to score. Healey followed with an RBI single to increase the lead to 6-2.
The Flames responded with another couple runs in the eighth when McGuiggan walked for the second straight time and scored on Jason Ganek's RBI double to centerfield. Ganek scored all the way from second when Porter had trouble locating a wild pitch by reliever Eric Marzec. That cut the deficit to 6-4, however that was as close as the Flames would get.
Swenson, a Second Team All-Horizon League honoree, earned the win, allowing two runs on six hits over 7.0 IP. The senior, who fanned 86 batters in the regular season - second most in the conference, set down eight Flames on Wednesday.
UIC will be back at the U.S. Steel Yard tomorrow when they play in elimination game tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. against the Butler Bulldogs, who fell victim to the Valparaiso Crusaders in the opening game of the Championship, 7-3.
The Flames outscored the Bulldogs 32-21 in a three-game set earlier this season in Chicago. Rutta had a monster series, being named Horizon League Player of the Week, batting .667 (10-for-15) with four doubles, three home runs and 10 RBI against the Butler.
Youngstown State will play top-seeded Wright State tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. Valpo will play Milwaukee at 3:00 p.m. in the day's other contest.
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