April 2, 2011
Box Score
VALPARAISO, Ind. - UIC starting pitcher Matt Salemi was magnificent in game two of a doubleheader on Saturday to help the Flames win the nightcap against Valparaiso, 5-0, after dropping the opening contest, 5-2.
GAME TWO:
Game Two Box Score in PDF Format 
Matt Salemi (3-2) threw a complete-game, three-hit shutout to stymie Valparaiso (5-20, 2-3 Horizon League) and help the Flames (12-11, 4-1 Horizon League) split a Horizon League doubleheader Saturday.
Salemi appeared to get stronger as the game went on. In the second inning, the bases were loaded with one out, but the right-hander induced a ground ball to third baseman Andy Leonard who threw to the plate for the second out and Jacob McNamara fired down to first to end the inning unscathed.
The Spring Grove, Ill. native allowed three hits, two to Robbie Robinson of the Crusaders, and struck out one to secure his third win of the young season.
The Flames struck first on the scoreboard in the nightcap, pushing across a single run in the top of the third inning. McNamara laced a leadoff triple to right center field. After Josh Nevers walked, Nick Addison struck out swinging, but the Crusaders tried to cut down Nevers trying to steal second; the throw was cut off, but mishandled, allowing McNamara to scurry home and give UIC a 1-0 lead.
Harry Kammholz drove in another run in the top of the fourth for the Flames with a sacrifice fly to center field that allowed Matt Serna to score and make it a 2-0 lead. Serna had led off the inning with a single and moved to third when Jon Ryan did the same one batter later.
In the top of the seventh inning, UIC scored twice more with the help of a pair of errors by Valpo starter Damon McCormick (1-5). Kammholz led off with a rocket single back up the middle and McNamara grounded one back to McCormick that he couldn't handle allowing both Flames to advance. Nevers came up and attempted to sacrifice his teammates up 90 feet. The freshman put down a perfect bunt and McCormick threw it away and up the line which allowed both Kammholz and McNamara to score and make it 4-0, UIC.
Serna scored again in the top of the eighth when he touched the dish on Leonard's double down into the right field corner to make it 5-0 where it would remain. The second baseman was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored in the win. McNamara also tallied two runs for UIC.
GAME ONE:
Game One Box Score in PDF Format
Valparaiso scored three runs courtesy of four straight hits in the bottom of the second inning. The eighth and ninth hitters for the Crusaders, Michael Morman and Andrew Bain did the damage driving in all three tallies with a double and bloop single, respectively.
The Flames answered with a single run in the top of the fifth off Valpo starter Justin Frane. Nick Addison was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Steve McGuiggan. Following a walk to Alex De LaRosa, Jason Ganek delivered an RBI single to left field to get UIC on the scoreboard. The Crusaders left fielder, Steven Scoby made a strong throw to the plate, but Addison was able to slide around the tag to get his team on the board.
Valpo added its fourth run in the bottom of the fifth on a bizarre play. With runners on second and third and a count of three balls and a strike to Ryan O'Gara, UIC decided to put the slugging first baseman on intentionally. A wild pitch from Flames starter Matt Heaslip sailed to the backstop, however, and allowed Kyle Gaedele to score from third to make it 4-1, Crusaders.
Tracy Woodson's team pushed across another run in the bottom of the seventh with the aid of some small ball. Chris Manning drew a lead-off walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and third on a wild pitch by UIC reliever Charlie Weinberg. O'Gara then did his job by flying out deep enough to left to field to allow Manning to score and make it, 5-1 after seven innings.
The Flames got one back in the top of the eighth inning on the heels of doubles by outfielders Jon Ryan and Addison. Ryan poked one down the right field line, while Addison took his into the left field corner to allow Ryan to score from second and slice the deficit to three, 5-2. Unfortunately, that was as close as they could come in game one.
UIC drew 11 walks in game one, but mustered only six hits and left 12 men on base in the contest.
The loss snapped an eight-game winning streak for the Flames. It was also the first time Mike Dee's club fell at Emory G. Bauer Field since April 25, 2002.
The three-game set will conclude Sunday morning at 11 a.m. Joey Begel is slated to start for UIC; he'll be opposed by Valparaiso's Tyler Deetjen.
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