GAME ONE | GAME TWO
LISLE, Ill. – The Benedictine University men's baseball team struggled in their doubleheader against Concordia University-Wisconsin on Saturday afternoon, losing both games 10-1 and 13-6.
In game one, the Eagles looked promising, getting off to a good start and a quick lead when right fielder Jack Holden singled to left to bring in Kevin Hendricks for the 1-0 advantage.
However, going into the second inning with a 1-0 advantage, the BenU defense faltered as CUW managed to bring in four runs on three hits and two errors. The Benedictine offense would fail to get going again after the first inning, as the Eagles remained scoreless for the remainder of the game. The Falcons, however, posted another big inning in the top of the sixth when they scored four more runs on three hits and three errors.
Errors plagued the Eagles as they tallied five in the game, all of them coming in the big second and sixth innings in which the Falcon scored four runs apiece. Starting pitcher for the Falcons, Pankow, led all pitchers with 13 strikeouts in the game.
Kevin Hendricks was 3-5 with two RBI while Josh Zenawick was 2-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
The beginning of the second game did not look much brighter for the Eagles as the Falcons came out with bats blazing in the top of the first. Led by their catcher, Schilter, the Falcons would immediately put up three runs on two hits. Schilter would finish the game with three runs, three hits, and three RBI.
The Falcons posted another run in the third and the Eagles went into the bottom of the inning down 4-0. However, sparked by Hendricks and first baseman Tim Gindville, the Eagles went on a tear that ended with them tallying six runs on six hits and an error, leaving only one player stranded on base.
Now up 6-4, the Eagles managed to hold on to the lead until the fifth when the Falcons once again caught fire again as Schilter continued to play hot. With a double to left on the first pitch of the inning, the Eagles could not contain CUW as the Falcons rallied to score six runs in the inning on six hits and an error.
In the top of the eighth, left fielder Pankow homered to left, bringing in two runs. Pankow finished the game with three runs, three hits, and three RBI. After their hot third inning, the Eagles would not score again and the Falcons rolled on to post 13 and win by seven runs.
BenU pitcher Kevin Crowley led all pitchers with seven strikeouts in the losing effort while Matt Strle received the loss. At the plate, Nick Karakosta was 2-5 and Hendricks was 3-5.
The Eagles are back in action on Tuesday Apr. 19 when they play Augustana in Rock Island, Ill.
