HAMMOND, Ind. - In a non-league contest which featured a combined 27 hits, the University of St. Francis baseball team couldn't quite keep up with Purdue Northwest this Wednesday (March 4) as the Saints dropped a 10-6 decision at PNW's Dowling Park.
The Saints, who were playing for the fifth day in a row, recorded 11 hits while NCAA Division II member Purdue Northwest compiled a 16-hits output.
The first inning was a wild one as a combined seven runs were scored, which included two by the Saints in the top half of the opening frame. Outfielder Travis Schoonover (SR/Braidwood, Ill.) doubled with one out after second baseman John Peterson (JR/Palos Heights, Ill.) was hit by a pitch from PNW starter Justin Walter to put two USF runners in scoring position. Third baseman Josh Tesch (SR/Lockport, Ill.) followed by reaching base safely on a PNW error which allowed Peterson to score the game's first run. Catcher Kevin Rada (SR/Valencia, Venezuela) was then hit by a Walter pitch with the bases loaded to force in Schoonover and give USF a 2-0 lead. Unfortunately, the Saints' lead was short-lived as Purdue Northwest answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning on as many hits and were aided by two USF errors. A pair of two-RBI singles by Brett Veltema and Anthony Fumagalli accounted for the Pride's four-run first.
The next two innings were scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when PNW tacked on two more runs to take a 7-2 lead. USF scored once in the top of the fifth to draw within 7-3 on a RBI single by Tesch to score outfielder Shawn Harper (SR/Plainfield, Ill.), who drew a leadoff walk. However, the Pride pushed three additional runs across home plate in the bottom of the fifth inning thanks to five hits, which featured three RBI one-base hits to extend their margin to 10-3.
The Saints attempted a comeback in the top of the eighth inning with three runs on four hits to close its deficit to 10-6. Tesch led off with a triple and scored on Rada's RBI single. Shortstop Noah Kararo (JR/Oswego, Ill.) doubled as did first baseman Ryan King (JR/Joliet, Ill.), who drove in two USF runs as Rada and Kararo both scored with no outs. PNW reliever Riley Gallagher was summoned and proceeded to retire the next three Saints' hitters, which included two strikeouts.
In the top of the ninth innings, the Saints were retired in order as their season record fell to 5-9 overall this spring.
Schoonover, Tesch, and Rada all posted two hits apiece to lead the Saints while Tesch, Rada, and King each generated a squad-best two RBIs.
Michael Beaudoin (JR/Sycamore, Ill.) took the loss as the starting USF pitcher went the first five innings and gave up 10 runs on 15 hits while fanning three and walking one. Nick Clemmons (JR/Channahon, Ill.) turned in a solid relief performance allowing just one PNW hit to go with one strikeout in three innings of work. For PNW, Hunter Robinson, the second of six Pride pitchers, was credited with the victory.
The Saints left six runners on base paths compared to the Pride's eight base runners.
Up Next
The Saints will now travel to Florida to play seven non-conference games from March 8-13, starting this Sunday (March 8) with a twin bill versus nationally 16th-ranked Webber International at the Heart of Florida Field in Babson Park, Fla. The opener is slated to start at 12 p.m. (CT) with game two to follow around 3 p.m. (CT).
