Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

LISLE, Ill. - The Benedictine University baseball team officially secured a slot in the NAC Tournament by posting a pair of one-run victories over Lakeland in games with plenty of late-inning drama to up its win streak to a season best seven on Saturday at The Sports Complex.

GAME ONE: BENEDICTINE 8, LAKELAND 7
Benedictine allowed Lakeland to take the lead in the top of the ninth before scoring three times in the bottom of the frame to notch the win in the opener.

Lakeland jumped on the board in the first inning with a run against Benedictine ace Mark Belcastro. Nate Soley led off the game with a single, was sacrificed to second, and scored on a double by pitcher Mike Ruzek. The Muskies built on the lead with a pair of runs in the second to move in front 3-0. With two outs and a runner at first, Belcastro posted a strikeout of Andy Chitwood, but Chitwood reached on a wild pitch to keep the inning alive. With the bases loaded Soley stroked a double to score two.

Benedictine began the comeback in the bottom of the inning. John Cervantes stroked a two-out double down the right field line and with a full count Tom Higgins doubled into the right-center gap to score Cervantes.

The Eagles took the lead with four runs in the bottom of the seventh. Higgins opened the inning with a walk and Nick Karakosta tallied a double to chase Ruzek from the game. Uli Ortiz brought Benedictine within 3-2 on a sacrifice fly. Tim Hendricks tied the score with an opposite field single to left. Dan Zust put Benedictine ahead for the first time with an RBI double and Steve Cocat finished the scoring in the frame with a sacrifice fly.

Belcastro battled through eight innings, leaving with the lead. With the tying runs in scoring position, Belcastro collected three consecutive strikeouts to end the threat. Belcastro did not win for the first time in a start this season, striking out eight. Lakeland touched the bullpen for four runs in the ninth to open a 7-5 advantage.Shay Wagner entered and issued a pair of walks around a flyout. A single loaded the bases before Spencer Lehmann came on. Garrett Morris tied the game with a ground rule double into the tarp in the right field corner. Consecutive singles scored both runs and put the visitors in front.

The ninth inning drama wasn't finished though as Benedictine won the game with three runs in the bottom of the inning, walking off happy. Ortiz and Hendricks both drew walks to place the tying runs on base. Chris Wanderling attempted to move the runners on a sacrifice bunt but reached as the throw to first scooted into the outfield allowing the first run to score. Zust was walked intentionally to load the bases for Cocat, who drew a walk to tie the game. Ryan Mullin ended the game with a sacrifice fly.  

Eight different individuals posted hits in the game for Benedictine.

GAME TWO: BENEDICTINE 5, LAKELAND 4
Game two saw Lakeland rally from a three-run deficit only to watch as Benedictine scored in the ninth to post the sweep.

Benedictine struck with a pair of runs in the first inning. Zust led off the game with a triple and scored moments later on an RBI single from Cocat through the left side of the infield. Mullin followed by stroking a double to right and the second run scored on a wild pitch. An unearned run in the fourth stretched the lead to 3-0 as Benedictine scored without a hit. Mullin plated Zust with an RBI groundout in the fifth to make the margin 4-0.

Mike Irgang seemed in control on the mound for Benedictine. Lakeland scored two runs in the sixth on a two-run single from Green. Irgang exited following seven innings of work, matching a season high. The Muskies tied the game with two runs in the top of the eighth. Tim Gindville proved hero for Benedictine in the bottom of the eighth. With runners at second and third with one out, Gindville parked a single into right to score Karakosta, who doubled to lead off the inning.

Zust, Mullin, and Jake Passini each posted a pair of hits in the game. Zust and Cervantes kept streaks alive in both games. Zust has hit safely in a team best 12 in a row while Cervantes has reached base in 19 straight contests.

Benedictine (22-13, 14-4) has won a season best seven games in a row. The Eagles travel to Wisconsin Lutheran on Sunday for a doubleheader at 1:00 p.m.