May 12, 2012 - The Concordia Cougars and Benedictine Eagles met this morning to decide who would earn the right to face Aurora University in the championship round of the Northern Athletics Conference Tournament. For the second straight day, the Eagles' pitchers frustrated the Cougar hitters, but Concordia's bats woke up just in time today. Two runs in the eighth inning led Concordia to a 2-1 victory.
Brenden Schulz (Kenosha, WI/Bradford) and Matt Vucovich squared off on the mound, and each pitcher induced a double play to get out of the first inning. Schulz later got a second double play in the fourth that helped him out of a jam after John Cervantes had doubled with one out and moved to a third on a single by Tim Gindville.
The Eagles finally broke through in the fifth with an unearned run. With two out, Chris Wanderling reached on a ball off Anthony Even's (Franklin Park, IL/West Leyden) glove. Dan Zust then reached as Rob Fioravanti (Evergreen Park, IL/H.S.) misplayed his ground ball, Wanderling motoring to third. With a 2-2 count on Uli Ortiz, both runners broke as Schulz was facing away from home plate. By the time Schulz wheeled and threw to the plate, Wanderling had slid in with the game's first run.
Vucovich held the Cougars to just two hits through the first six innings. With one out in the seventh, Nick Skala (Long Grove, IL/St. Viator) was hit by a pitch. Shawn Miller (Pleasant Prairie, WI/Tremper) then laced the next pitch into right-center, legging out a double while Skala moved to third. Dan Eichholzer (Elwood, IL/Joliet Township) was intentionally walked to set up a double play. The Eagles got what they wanted, albeit unconventionally. Cam Stephens (Rosemont, IL/East Leyden) hit a pop to short rightfield that was caught by the second baseman. The fielder collided momentarily with the rightfielder, and Skala attempted to capitalize on the situation and score. However, the second baseman recovered and threw to the plate in time for the tag, keeping the game at 1-0.
With time running out, a couple of fortunate circumstances got things moving for the Cougars. Fioravanti drew a leadoff walk and was sacrificed to second by Rich Santarelli (Homer Glen, IL/Chicago Christian). Robert Frampton (North Riverside, IL/Riverside-Brookfield) replaced Fioravanti at second base. Moments later with Schulz at bat, Frampton broke for third. Schulz swung, and the catcher's glove made contact with the bat. Schulz was awarded first base, and Frampton was given third because he had made the break before the pitch.
Vucovich departed the game in favor of left-handed sidearmer Nick Mishevich. Robert Weis (Oak Creek, WI/H.S.) fell behind 1-2, fouled off a pitch and then lined a shot over the shortstop's head, bringing home Frampton to tie the game. Shay Wagner relieved Mishevich and looked to have the Eagles out of the inning as Even hit a grounder to second. However, the fielder momentarily bobbled the ball and, while he did get the out at second, Even was safe at first. That brought Skala to the plate, and the senior catcher ripped one past the diving first baseman. The double scored Weis with the go-ahead run, although Even was tagged out in a rundown trying to add the insurance run.
Tim Milroy (Batavia, IL/Marmion Academy) came on and set down the Eagles in order. The save was Milroy's fourth of the year and second of the weekend. Schulz earned the win, improving to 6-3 in his sophomore season.
The Cougars advance to the championship round against top-seeded Aurora University with the first of two possible games at 1:00. Concordia must beat the Spartans twice to win the tournament title.
