LISLE, Ill. – Sophomore catcher Garrett Bogucki homered in game one and drove in the winning run in game two with a sacrifice fly as the Edgewood College baseball team split a doubleheader with Benedictine University on Monday night. Edgewood College dropped the opening game 7-5, before rallying to take the second game 3-2.
Bogucki got the Eagles off to a flyng start in the bottom of the first inning. After Danny Appino walked and Tim Nunn singled, Bogucki launched a two-out blast to left field, scoring three runs. It was his third home run of the season, tying him for second place in the NACC.
Starting pitcher Nate Averill cruised through the first three innings before allowing two runs in the fourth. He seemed poised to get out of a bases loaded jam in the fifth, but his defense failed him. A two-out error opened the door for five unearned Benedictine University (8-8, 3-3 NACC) runs, and the Eagles suddenly trailed 7-3.
Edgewood College (7-12, 3-3 NACC) earned two run right back in the sixth inning. Andrew Lauritzen doubled and scored on a Nunn single to right field. Then with the bases loaded Callen Gavic plated a second run with an infield single and Edgewood College trailed just 7-5. However, the Eagles wouldn't get closer despite loading the bases in the seventh and putting runners in scoring position in the eight and ninth innings.
Nunn was the only Eagle with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Bogucki led the Eagles with his three runs batted in. Appino went 1-for-3 with a single and a stolen base, while Lauritzen added a double. Averill went 7.2 innings and allowed just two earned runs while striking out five. The loss dropped him to 1-3 on the season.
In the second game, Benedictine again took advantage of an Eagle error to score two unearned runs of starting pitcher Andy Swanson in the third inning. However, that was all Swanson would allow in eight innings of work. The Edgewood College lineup made a winner out of Swanson, first by tying the game in the seventh and then scoring the winning run in the ninth.
Brodie Engel opened the seventh inning with a single up the middle, setting the stage for Steve Gavin. Gavin roped a double down the left field line, and the speedy Engel turned two corners and scored all the way from first. After Lauritzen moved Gavin to third with a sacrifice, Appino tied the game by slapping a single through the drawn in infield.
Just as an Edgewood College error helped Benedictine take the lead in the first game, a Benedictine error opened the door for Edgewood College's game winning run. Lauritzen soft liner toward first escaped the Benedictine first baseman and an errant throw allowed Lauritzen to reach second with nobody out. Appino moved Lauritzen over to third with a sacrifice bunt and Nunn walked to set the stage for Bogucki. Bogucki hit a shallow pop fly into short right field, but when the Benedictine second baseman made the catch Lauritzen dashed home with the go-ahead run just ahead of the throw to the plate.
Steven Gavin moved from second base to the pitcher's mound for the ninth inning and closed out Benedictine in order for his first career save.
Lauritzen and Jeff Tucker each had two hits on the day, including Tucker's triple in the second inning. Gavin and Alex Fowler each had a double, while Lauritzen and Appino both recorded their eighth stolen base of the season. Swanson improved to 3-1 on the season on the mound.
Edgewood College will face a tough challenge at home on Tuesday. The Eagles will host current NACC leader and preseason favorite Concordia University Chicago in a doubleheader. First pitch from Stampfl Field in Verona will be at 3:00 p.m.
