April 26, 2014
Box Score: UIC 5, Valpo 1
VALPARAISO, Ind. - The UIC baseball team (16-19, 11-9) defeated Valparaiso (15-21, 6-8) on Saturday afternoon by a final of 5-1 as the Flames claimed their fifth Horizon League series of the season and second against the Crusaders. UIC received stellar pitching from starter Ian Lewandowski who carried a shutout into the ninth inning and ultimately picked up his third win of the year.
It was a pitcher's duel for the first five innings as both squads struggled to find momentum offensively. Despite the loss, Valpo starter Dalton Lundeen was effective as he lasted seven frames, allowing just six hits and two runs.
The Flames broke a 0-0 stalemate in the top of the sixth as senior Jacob McNamara and redshirt junior Alex Lee led off with back-to-back singles. Junior Jeff Boehm then posted UIC's third straight one-baser which drove in McNamara for the game's first run. On the very next at bat, senior Alex Jurich doubled down the left field line to score Lee, giving UIC a 2-0 advantage.
Jurich recorded his second RBI on the day with a single in the eighth inning that again plated Lee and put the Flames up by three. Jurich continues to lead to Horizon League in RBI with 38, seven ahead of teammate Tyler Detmer who owns the conference's second-highest total of 31.
UIC added two more runs in the top of the ninth frame to go in front 5-0 after RBI-singles from Lee and freshman Mickey McDonald. Lee finished the afternoon with two runs and hit 2-of-4 from the plate, while McDonald now has five RBI over the last two games.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Crusaders ripped off three straight singles before freshman Mitchell Schulewitz replaced Lewandowski on the mound. The sidearm righty forced Valpo into a double play on the second batter, which ended the Crusader rally and gave Schulewitz his second save of the season.
Action resumes tomorrow with the series finale scheduled to start at Noon CT.
