Box Score

The Patriots Baseball Team wrapped up their 2008 season in College Station, Texas, on Saturday afternoon after they suffered a 9-5 loss to Illinois-Chicago in the elimination game of the NCAA Regional Tournament.  DBU struggled on the mound and hitting with runners in scoring position, with the Patriots pitching staff combining to hit eight batters, four of which came in the five run fifth inning for the Flames.

The loss dropped the Patriots to 37-19 for the year, while UIC, who is still alive in the NCAA Regional tournament, is now 35-21.

DBU stole their way to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning after Sophomore Ryan Enos led off the game with a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and then stole third base to get into scoring position.  Senior Nick Santos then hit slow dribbler to third base, in which the Flames third baseman booted the ball, allowing Enos to score.

The Flames took the lead from the Patriots in the bottom of the third inning after getting runners on second and third base after a sacrifice bunt advanced them into scoring position.  A ground ball to second base allowed the first run to score and then an error by Sophomore Austin Knight scored the second run, making the score 2-1.

Sophomore Ryan Goins led off the top of the fourth inning with a triple to the left center field gap and was driven in by Junior Brandon Bantz on an RBI single to centerfield, which tied the score at 2-2.

The Patriots recaptured the lead from the Flames in the top of the fifth inning after Enos led off with a triple over the out reached arm of the centerfielder.  Knight then hit a soft line drive RBI single to centerfield to give DBU a 3-2 advantage.  DBU then loaded the bases and scored two more runs on back to back sacrifice RBI fly outs, which gave them a 5-2 lead heading into the middle half of the fifth.

The Flames recaptured the lead from DBU in the bottom of the fifth inning after they loaded the bases and scored a run on three hit batsman and a single.  Another hit batsman allowed the second run of the inning to score and then a two run single to right field allowed the go ahead runs to cross the plate.  The Flames padded their lead on a squeeze, which gave them a 7-5 advantage. 

UIC added two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to push their lead to 9-5 going into the ninth inning. 

The Flames were able to ride the arms of Don Phillis and Peter Ifft to secure the victory.  The two pitchers combined to throw 9.0 innings allowing five runs (four earned), on eight hits, and struck out two.

Sophomore Victor Black suffered the loss for DBU after he went 4.2 innings, allowing four hits, six runs, while striking out four and pegging seven batters.  Senior Brett Lester finished off the final 3.1 innings, allowing two runs on three hits, and two strikeouts.

Enos and Knight each had two hits, while Knight drove in one and scored one.  Goins also had two hits in three at bats, while scoring one run and driving in one.