Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)
RIVER FOREST, Ill. - The Edgewood College baseball team snapped a seven-game losing streak to Concordia University Chicago with a 15-13 victory in game one of their Northern Athletics Conference doubleheader. However, the Eagles were unable to complete the sweep falling to the Cougars 13-3 in the nightcap.
Edgewood College (11-7, 2-2 NAC) trailed 3-0 heading into the fourth inning, when sophomore transfer Mike Selvaggi picked the perfect moment for his first career home run. Jimy Landwehr opened the inning with a single, one of his four hits on the day. Following a pair of outs, Ryan Walker singled before Seth Astroth was hit by a pitch to load the bases. That's when Selvaggi connected a grand slam home run to give the Eagles a sudden 4-3 lead.
Concordia University Chicago (18-4, 5-1 NAC) answered with four runs of their own in the fourth, before the Eagles cut the lead to 7-6 in the fifth on a Steve Binder RBI groundout, followed by an RBI double by Walker that scored Landwehr.
The slugfest really began in the sixth, and oddly enough started with a bunt. After two singles and a sacrifice put runners on first and third, Landwehr surprised the Cougar defense with an RBI bunt single. They weren't surprised by the next batter, as Tim Barry unloaded a three-run home run to left field to put the Eagles ahead 10-7. Barry's home run was the 12th of his career which ties the Edgewood College school record for career home runs, held previously by Travis Krahn (2001-04). The Eagles weren't done in the sixth as Binder scored an unearned run on a Cougar throwing error and Selvaggi added his career-high fifth RBI of the game with a run scoring single for a 12-7 lead.
Edgewood College took a 13-11 lead into the ninth inning and tacked on a pair of insurance runs. Erik Massey drove in Treye Dennison with a single and Barry roped a double down the right field line to score Scott Ortega. Concordia Chicago, who is ranked 29th in the nation in the American Baseball Coaches Association poll, added two runs of their own in the ninth, and had the tying run at second base when Eagle reliever James Bertakis struck out Joe Romano to end the game.
Eagle starter Scott Winters hung tough through seven and two-thirds innings to get the win. Winters was touched for seven earned runs on 14 hits, but helped his own cause with four strikeouts to improve his record to 4-1 on the season.
Landwehr finished the game 4-for-6, all on singles, with three runs scored. Massey and Ortega each had three hits, with Ortega recording a double. Selvaggi and Barry had two hits apiece, but combined for nine of the Eagles' 13 runs batted in, as Selvaggi had five and Barry had four. Walker also had two hits, including a double.
In the second game, the Eagles scored a pair of unearned runs in the top of the second to tie the game at two, only to see the Cougars unload for five runs in the bottom of the inning. The only other Eagle run came in the fourth inning when Andrew King tripled to the left center gap and then scored easily on Selvaggi's RBI single. Cougar started Micah Buss scattered seven hits and gave up just one earned run.
King went 2-for-3 in the game, including the aforementioned triple, his second three-bagger of the year. Landwehr added another hit to extend his hitting streak to eight straight games, however, Barry saw his career long 12-game hitting streak come to an end.
Sophomore pitcher Glenn Nowell took the loss for the Eagles, giving up eight earned runs and lasting into the third inning.
Edgewood College will open up the home portion of the schedule on Sunday with a doubleheader against Rockford College. The first pitch will be at noon at Stampfl Field in Verona. Those unable to attend the game can watch it live and follow live stats on EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com.
