Baseball Game Recaps

2008 GAME RECAPS
(Click on results to obtain box score)

JOLIET --- Too little, too late.

University of St. Francis rallied from a 6-0 deficit, but ran out of innings in the end as St. Ambrose University (IA) concluded USF’s stellar season with a 7-5 defeat in an elimination game at the NAIA Region VII Baseball Tournament Thursday night at Silver Cross Field.

USF, ranked 12th in the final NAIA season poll, completes its campaign at 42-11, while St. Ambrose (33-11) remained alive in the tournament and will face Iowa Wesleyan in an elimination game Friday at 10 a.m.

The winner meets Saint Xavier University (36-18), which stands as the lone unbeaten in the six-team tournament at 3-0. The Cougars will be seeking their second Region VII title in three years Friday at 2 p.m.

St. Ambrose built a 6-0 lead after four innings on Thursday and appeared as though it was going to cruise to the victory. Junior lefthander Evan Cooling stymied the Saints through the first six innings scattering four hits.

But after retiring St. Francis leading hitter Dan Higgins (Marist H.S./Chicago, IL) on a great diving catch by centerfielder Ben Irmen to start the seventh, Cooling proceeded to hit Andy Zurales (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) with a pitch and the next three Saints -- Karl Gotsch (Reavis H.S./Burbank, IL), Steve Pollard (Leyden H.S./Northlake, IL) and Jeff Dybala (Lake Park H.S./Roselle, IL) -- stroked hits to plate their first two runs. Two more hits by Steve Kehr (Lyons Township H.S./Countryside, IL) and Pat Grady (Sandburg H.S./Orland Park, IL) followed a Steve Witczak (St. Rita H.S./Chicago, IL) fly out to make it a 6-4 game, but on Grady’s single to right-center field Kehr was thrown out after overrunning third base to end the first rally.

“The baserunning error hurt us, but our guys were just trying to be aggressive,” said USF head coach Gordie Gillespie. “What do you want from the guys? They gave it everything they had. We just ran out of innings.”

USF appeared ready to make amends for the miscue in the eighth when the Saints loaded the bases with one out. Pollard made it a 6-5 game with a sacrifice fly, but reliever Marc Barajas, who earned the save, got Artie Morales (Joliet Township H.S./Joliet, IL) to strike out to end the second threat.

St. Ambrose picked up an insurance run on a bases-loaded wild pitch in the ninth inning and the Saints went down 1-2-3 in the ninth inning with the final out coming on a running over-the-head catch by SAU shortstop Sean Murphy on Grady's short fly to left field..

“It was a great season for our guys,” closed Gillespie. “They did all that they could and you couldn’t have asked any more of them. We just came up short in the end.”

MAY 7:
USF 11, JUDSON 5

JOLIET, Ill. --- Powered by sophomore third baseman Andy Zurales’ four runs batted in and another three from sophomore centerfielder David Heasley (Crystal Lake Central H.S./Spring Grove, IL), University of St. Francis remained alive in the NAIA Region VII Baseball Tournament with an 11-5 victory over Judson University Wednesday evening at Silver Cross Field.

Zurales’ (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) three-run home run in the third inning sparked the second of back-to-back three-run innings for the Saints and gave them a 6-0 lead. Zurales also closed out the scoring with an RBI double in the eighth. All four RBI came after two were out as did seven of USF’s 11 runs on the day.

Heasley, meanwhile, contributed to the first three-run frame with a sacrifice fly before delivering a clutch two-run single in the seventh inning after Judson had pulled to within 7-5 with two runs in the fourth inning and three more in the sixth.

After only totaling eight hits one day earlier in an 11-2 loss to No. 6 seed Iowa Wesleyan, the No. 1-seeded Saints already had that amount after the first three innings on Wednesday. In all, USF (42-10) totaled 17 hits, led by Dan Higgins’ (Marist H.S./Chicago, IL) 4-for-5 day with three runs scored. Five other Saints produced a pair of hits, including Zurales and Heasley.

Senior Jason Novak (Lockport H.S./Lockport, IL) (8-1) stayed in just long enough to earn the win before giving way to sophomore Joe Koehler (Mt. Carmel H.S./Worth, IL). Koehler did not allow a run in the closing four innings, despite coming into the contest with the bases loaded and no one out in the Judson sixth inning. Koehler gave up a hit to start his relief appearance before getting a pair of ground outs, the first of which resulted in a key double play, to end the threat.

The save was Koehler’s team-leading fifth of the season.

With the win, the Saints move on to play the loser of the Saint Xavier University/St. Ambrose University (Iowa) contest, which will take place at 10 a.m. Thursday at Silver Cross Field. USF’s game is slated for 6 p.m. at Silver Cross Field.

Judson closes out its season at 18-25.

MAY 6:
IOWA WESLEYAN 11, USF 2

JOLIET, Ill. --- Iowa Wesleyan College pulled off the only upset of the day in first-round play of the 2008 NAIA Region VII Baseball Tournament and it was a big one as the No. 6-seeded Tigers built a 7-0 lead after four innings en route to crushing No. 1 seed University of St. Francis, 11-2, Tuesday afternoon at Silver Cross Field.

The loss marked the first time this season that USF has dropped back-to-back games, the first one coming last Wednesday in a 12-8 setback to neighboring rival Lewis University, 12-8.

A costly two-out error in the first inning set the tone for the day as Iowa Wesleyan used the miscue to post three first-inning runs, the latter two coming on Devin Smith’s two-run home run one batter after the throwing error.

Saint starter Erik Panek (Lemont H.S./Lemont, IL), who suffered his first defeat of the season in eight decisions, gave up another two-run home run two innings later as Iowa Wesleyan extended its lead to 5-0 on Jose Nunez’s round-tripper.

Working on a string of five straight games with 12 or more hits, St. Francis (41-10) was limited to just a pair of singles by Iowa Wesleyan lefthander Justin DeVoe (7-4) through the first six innings.

The Saints finally broke through in the seventh, where they put four hits together to plate two runs with sophomore third baseman Andy Zurales (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) delivering the hit – a single – to drive in the two runs.

That, however, would be the end of the Saints scoring on the day as DeVoe went the distance to earn the victory. He yielded two more harmless singles in the ninth giving St. Francis eight hits on the day.

Junior rightfielder Dan Higgins (Marist H.S./Chicago, IL) and Zurales were the lone two Saints to register multiple hits (two each) opposite five players for Iowa Wesleyan. Leadoff batter Frany Cruz led the Tigers’ 15-hit attack going 4-for-6 with 2 RBI and one run scored.

The loss left St. Francis needing to work its way through the loser’s bracket to claim the region crown. That test starts Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. at Silver Cross Field against Judson University, a 9-3 victim of St. Ambrose University (Iowa) on Tuesday.

Saint Xavier was the lone representative from the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference to claim a victory on the first day needing a three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat William Penn University, 8-7.

APRIL 30:
LEWIS 12, USF 8

ROMEOVILLE --- Lewis University tallied ten of its 12 runs after two were out, including four in a five-run eighth-inning rally, to defeat neighboring rival University of St. Francis, 12-8, Wednesday afternoon at Brennan Field.

The victory snapped a five-game losing streak for the Flyers (17-26), while also canceling out USF’s six-game winning streak.

St. Francis, which closed out the regular season at 41-9, now has a five-day layoff before returning to action Tuesday morning when it hosts the NAIA Region VII Tournament. The Saints, who remained at No. 13 in the latest NAIA polls, will play a team yet to be announced from the Midwest Collegiate Conference in the double-elimination tournament’s first game at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Lewis, aided by three unearned runs in the third inning, jumped out to a 4-1 lead after three before the Saints rallied for five runs in the fifth inning. Seven straight hits, including a two-run double by junior first baseman Steve Kehr (Lyons Township H.S./LaGrange, IL), sparked the uprising.

The host Flyers regained the advantage with three more runs in the sixth inning to go up, 7-6. That lead, however, turned out to be short-lived when Saint senior left fielder Brian Davis (Lyons Township H.S./LaGrange, IL) muscled up for a two-run home run just after sophomore designated hitter Pat Grady (Carl Sandburg H.S./Orland Park, IL) (2 hits) led off the seventh inning with a walk.

Back-to-back two-out, two-run singles by Brian Clancy and Michael Fedoruk off Saint reliever Brandon Kvistad (West Leyden H.S./Northlake, IL) (8-1) in the eighth inning pushed Lewis back ahead for the third time on the afternoon, 12-8, and this time it stuck. Kvistad, who suffered his first setback of the campaign, and two other Saint pitchers yielded 16 hits to eight different Lewis batters with the top of its order going 10-for-17. Leadoff batter Mike Vucsko led the brigade going 4-for-5 with three runs scored.

The Saints totaled 12 hits marking the fourth straight game that they have collected at least 10 hits and the ninth time in 10 games.

The two teams combined for 11 doubles in the contest with Lewis posting seven.

APRIL 29:
USF 12, ILLINOIS TECH 3

CHICAGO, Ill. -- University of St. Francis completed the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference portion of its regular season slate Tuesday afternoon with a convincing 12-3 victory at Illinois Institute of Technology. The Saints, who clinched their 13th CCAC title this past Saturday, pushed their current winning streak to six games.

USF (41-8, 18-2) never trailed in the contest and jumped out to a 7-0 lead midway through the fifth inning of the nine-inning game. The Saints tallied a pair of runs in the third on a two-run single by sophomore catcher Pat Grady (Sandburg H.S./Orland Park, IL).

St. Francis pushed the lead to 7-0 with a five-run fifth that was highlighted by a two-run single from sophomore center fielder David Heasley (Crystal Lake Central H.S./Spring Grove, IL) and an RBI double off the bat of senior left fielder Brian Davis (Lyons Township H.S./LaGrange, IL).

The Saints closed out the scoring with a five-run ninth that featured a two-run single from junior designated hitter Karl Gotsch (Reavis H.S./Burbank, IL). Gotsch, Grady, senior right fielder Dan Higgins (Marist H.S./Chicago, IL) and junior first baseman Jeff Dybala (Lake Park H.S./Roselle, IL) all contributed a pair of hits to USF's 13-hit attack. Dybala also joined Grady, Gotsch and Heasley with two RBI.

Senior starting pitcher Jason Novak (Lockport H.S./Lockport, IL) earned the win by firing five innings of two-hit ball. He retired the first 10 batters he faced and allowed just one unearned run, with two walks and a pair of strikeouts. He improved his record to 7-1.

Sophomore righthander Joe Koehler (Mt. Carmel H.S./Worth, IL) went the final four innings to record his team-leading fourth save of the season.

The Saints conclude their regular season with a 5 p.m. single game at Lewis University Wednesday afternoon in Romeoville.

USF will play host to the six-team NAIA Region VII Championship tournament at Silver Cross Field May 6-9.

APRIL 27:
USF 13, INDIANA NORTHWEST 0
USF 17, INDIANA NORTHWEST 0

GARY, Ind. -- No. 13-ranked University of St. Francis pushed its win total to 40 for the first time since 1995 with a pair of easy wins over outmanned Indiana University Northwest on Sunday.

The Saints (40-8, 17-2), playing mostly reserves, scored 30 runs in the doubleheader and did not allow an IUN hit until the fifth and final inning of game number two. IUN managed just three baserunners in 10 full innings against USF pitching and did not advance a runner past first base.

USF broke open game one with a seven-run third inning that was highlighted by a two-run double off the bat of sophomore second baseman Joe Prohaska (St. Laurence H.S./Chicago, IL). The Saints added five more runs in the fourth and one in the fifth and ended the game after five innings due to the 10-run rule.

Junior lefty Dan Leddy (Maine South H.S./Park Ridge, IL) and freshmen David Hexdall (Morris H.s./Morris, IL) and Will Bausch (Mount Carmel H.S./Chicago, IL) combined on the five inning no-hitter. The only IUN runner to reach base came on a USF throwing error in the fourth inning.

The Saints scored runs in all five innings of the nightcap. Sophomore third baseman Pat Grady (Sandburg H.S./Orland Park, IL) belted a pair of triples and a double and drove in three runs and freshman shortstop Artie Morales (Joliet Township H.S./Joliet, IL) had a pair of hits, including his first collegiate home run which was a two-run shot in the third inning.

Bausch and fellow freshmen Mitch La Buda (Downers Grove North H.S./Downers Grove, IL) and Mark Ahern (Homewood-Flossmoor H.S./Homewood, IL) tossed the shutout for the Saints.

The Saints racked up 30 hits on the day with Prohaska (6-for-11, two doubles, five RBI) having the hottest bat. Freshmen Robert DeLong (St. Mary Cathedral H.S./Gaylord, MI) and Nick Dziuban (Wilmington H.S./Wilmington, IL) each collected their first collegiate hits in the doubleheader.

USF, who clinched the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference championship on Saturday with a sweep at Purdue North Central, completes its regular season with a CCAC game at Illinois Tech on Tuesday at 3 p.m. and a non-league game at Lewis on Wednesday at 5 p.m.

USF will play host to the NAIA Region VII tournament May 6-9 at Silver Cross Field.

APRIL 26:
USF 4, PURDUE NORTH CENTRAL 2
USF 10, PURDUE NORTH CENTRAL 2

WESTVILLE, Ind. -- No. 13 University of St. Francis notched its 13th Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference championship and its first in 11 seasons with a doubleheader sweep -- 4-2 and 10-2 -- at Purdue North Central on Saturday afternoon.

The Saints (38-8, 17-2), who have now won 23 of their last 25 games, clinched the title by knocking out second-place PNC (25-19, 14-6) and putting themselves three games ahead of rival Saint Xavier with just one league game to play. Of the 13 league titles, the Saints have won 11 under current coach Gordie Gillespie and their two most recent titles in 1996 and 1997 under coach Tony Delgado.

USF trailed 1-0 after two innings in game one but a three-run home run by senior Brian Davis (Lyons Township H.S./LaGrange, IL) in the third inning gave the Saints a lead they would not relinquish for the rest of the afternoon.

PNC chopped the USF advantage to 3-2 with a run in the bottom of the fifth but the Saints picked up an insurance tally on a bases-loaded balk in the top of the seventh to secure the 4-2 victory in the opener.

Junior right-hander Erik Panek (Lemont H.S./Lemont, IL) improved to 7-0 and pitched the distance in game one, scattering five hits with five strikeouts and only one walk. Davis and junior first baseman Steve Kehr (Lyons Township H.S./Countryside, IL) paced the USF offense with two hits apiece with Davis adding a double to his home run earlier in the game.

The Saints took control of game two in the top of the second inning on back-to-back solo home runs from junior right fielder Dan Higgins (Marist H.S./Chicago, IL) and junior catcher Karl Gotsch (Reavis H.S./Burbank, IL). Higgins hit his team-high ninth round tripper to left-center field and Gotsch blasted the very next pitch far over the left-field fence for his second homer of the year.

USF broke the game open with a five-run fourth inning that was highlighted by sophomore designated hitter Pat Grady's (Sandburg H.S./Orland Park, IL) two-run single.

Sophomore righty Brandon Kvistad (Leyden H.S./Northlake, IL) moved his perfect record to 8-0 and went the distance for USF, allowing only two earned runs on six hits. He walked four and struck out three. Grady, Higgins, Gotsch and senior left fielder Steve Pollard (Leyden H.S./Northlake, IL) each had two hits to pace the offense. Kehr joined Grady with two runs batted in.

The Saints play a nonconference doubleheader Sunday at Gary, Ind., against Indiana University Northwest. USF wraps up conference play at Illinois Tech on Tuesday and finishes the regular season at Lewis on Wednesday. With the conference title in hand, the Saints advance directly to the NAIA Region VII Championship tournament which will be held at Silver Cross Field May 6-9.

APRIL 25:
USF 9, OLIVET NAZARENE 4

JOLIET -- University of St. Francis rebounded from a long and disappointing 18-12 loss to Saint Xavier late Thursday night with a convincing 9-4 victory over Olivet Nazarene Friday afternoon at Silver Cross Field. The game was the fourth meeting of the year between the two schools and will not count in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference standings. USF won all four of the meetings with the Tigers. The Saints have now won 21 of their last 23 games.

The Saints (36-8, 15-2) grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning and pushed it to 3-0 after two. Junior catcher Karl Gotsch (Reavis H.S./Burbank, IL) got the Saints on the board with a bases-loaded single in the first inning that drove in a pair of runs. Sophomore shortstop Steve Witczak (St.Rita H.S./Chicago, IL) reached base on an error in the second inning, moved to third on junior first baseman Jeff Dybala's (Lake Park H.S./Roselle, IL) double and scampered home on a wild pitch to make it 3-0.

The Saints scored two more in the sixth on a run-scoring double by Gotsch and a fielder's choice ground ball off the bat of freshman second baseman Artie Morales (Joliet Township H.S./Joliet, IL).

After Olivet (25-15, 11-7) narrowed the gap to just 5-3 with a three-run seventh, USF took control once again with three runs of its own in the bottom half of that inning. Sophomore third baseman Andy Zurales (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) got the first run home with a sacrifice fly and sophomore center fielder David Heasley (Crystal Lake Central H.S./Spring Grove, IL) plated two more with a double off the center field wall.

Junior first baseman Steve Kehr (Lyons Township H.S./Countryside, IL) closed out the scoring for the Saints with his sixth home run of the year on a solo shot in the eighth inning.

Senior left-hander Adam Altobelli (Marist H.S./Oak Forest, IL) improved his record to 4-2 with the win. He scattered six hits over six-and-two-thirds innings and was charged with three earned runs. He struck out three and walked five. Freshman right-hander Mark Ahern (Homewood-Flossmoor H.S./Homewood, IL) recorded the final seven outs, giving up one earned run on three hits. Ahern picked up his second collegiate save.

Sophomore designated hitter Pat Grady (Sandburg H.S./Orland Park, IL) went 3-for-4 with a triple and a double in the game. Heasley also finished with three hits.

The Saints travel to Westville, Ind., Saturday for a critical CCAC doubleheader at Purdue North Central. USF stands 15-2 in league play with three games left. A USF sweep on Saturday clinches the CCAC title for the Saints. A split with the Panthers (14-4 in league play) guarantees USF no worse than a share of the title with only Saint Xavier (12-4) still having a chance to match USF's record. USF will conclude CCAC play with a road game at Illinois Tech on Tuesday.

APRIL 24:
SAINT XAVIER 18, USF 12

JOLIET --- Spotting NAIA No. 13-ranked University of St. Francis a 6-0 lead after one inning, two-time defending Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference champion Saint Xavier University roared back to score 18 runs over a five-inning stretch to claim an 18-12 victory at Silver Cross Field Thursday night.

St. Francis, seeking to grab a share of its first league title since 1997, looked to take care of business early with the runs coming as steady as the early-inning rainfall. USF (35-8, 15-2) threw a six-spot on the board in the very first inning when each of USF’s first five batters reaching base safely. Senior centerfielder Brian Davis (Lyons Township H.S./LaGrange, IL) got the carousel rolling with a run-scoring single and junior rightfielder Dan Higgins (Marist H.S./Chicago, IL) followed with a bases-loaded walk. USF’s other four runs came on fielder’s choices with an error on one producing a pair of runs.

Saint Xavier, however, wasn’t about to go down so easily. The Cougars (30-17, 12-4) matched USF’s six-run first with one of their own, waiting until after St. Francis starter Jason Novak (Lockport H.S./Lockport, IL) had struck out the first two batters of the fourth inning before starting their rally.

The fun was just beginning.

The Saints answered the challenge, using triples by sophomore catcher Pat Grady (Carl Sandburg H.S./Orland Park, IL), sophomore third baseman Andy Zurales (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) and freshman second baseman Artie Morales (Joliet Township H.S./Joliet, IL) - the last plating two runs - to key their second six-run frame and completely take away any momentum the Cougars might have built up.

Or so the Saints thought?

It just made the Cougars angrier and caught St. Francis back on its heels.

Saint Xavier started innocently enough with one run in the fifth on a wild pitch before cranking out its second six-run inning in the sixth to take its first lead of the night. Tony Testin provided the advantage with his second hit of the game, a double down the left field line to score two runs and give the Cougars a 13-12 lead.

They added five more runs in the eighth to complete the flurry of activity.

Neither Novak, who came into the contest with a 6-1 record, nor sophomore Joe Koehler (Mount Carmel H.S./Worth, IL), one of USF’s other pitching aces at 8-2, could slow down Saint Xavier, yielding a combined 16 hits and 15 earned runs over 7 2/3 innings. Koehler (8-3) was tagged with the loss.

Saint Xavier starter Rick Kehoe did not fare much better, allowing the first 10 Saint runs (8 earned) on nine hits. Freshman reliever Joe Branigan (4-1) finally stemmed the St. Francis tide allowing only three hits and two unearned runs in 4 1/3 innings to gain the victory.

Seven Saint Xavier starters in all rang up multi-hit games, led by John O’Brien and Mark Siefert with three-hit, two-RBI contests each.

Morales was one of four Saints to collect a pair of hits. He also drove in three runs, with Davis accounting for another two.

The loss was just the second at home for the Saints against 13 wins this season.

USF wraps up the home portion of its regular season on Friday, hosting Olivet Nazarene University in a non-conference affair beginning at 3:30 p.m.

APRIL 22:
USF 8, SAINT XAVIER 4

CHICAGO --- NAIA No. 14-ranked University of St. Francis jumped on top of Saint Xavier University 8-0 after five innings before settling for an 8-4 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference victory Tuesday afternoon behind the complete-game pitching effort of junior righthander Erik Panek (Lemont H.S./Lemont, IL).

The victory was the 20th in the last 21 games for the Saints, who have also won 28 of their last 32.

Panek, who remained unbeaten at 6-0, had plenty of support behind him both offensively and defensively with eight starters collecting hits – four producing multiple hits – and the Saint middle infield turning three double plays.

Junior first baseman Steve Kehr (Lyons Township H.S./Countryside, IL) led the 15-hit attack going 4-for-5 with three runs scored. Sophomore third baseman Andy Zurales (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) collected another three hits to go along with one run scored and one RBI, while junior rightfielder Dan Higgins (Marist H.S./Chicago, IL) and senior leftfielder Brian Davis (Lyons Township H.S./LaGrange, IL) added two hits apiece.

Higgins drove in three of the eight runs, including the last two on his team-leading eighth home run of the season, a line shot to centerfield in the fifth. He also produced the first run of the game in the first inning with a sacrifice fly.

Sophomore catcher Pat Grady (Carl Sandburg H.S./Orland Park, IL) made it 2-0 in the third with his run-producing triple with Davis driving in pinch runner Tom Serruto (Glenbard West H.S./Glen Ellyn, IL) one batter later on a groundout.

Back-to-back run-scoring doubles by Zurales and junior designated hitter Karl Gotsch (Reavis H.S./Burbank, IL) started a three-run fifth with pinch hitter Jeff Dybala (Lake Park H.S./Roselle, IL) driving in the third run with a sacrifice fly.

Panek worked a strong first six innings, scattering five hits before giving up nearly that many alone (four) in the seventh when Saint Xavier (28-17, 10-4) put all four of its runs on the board. Tony Testin’s bases-clearing double with two outs was the big blow.

Panek, however, righted himself over the final two innings, where he registered three called-third strikeouts as part of an overall eight-K performance. He allowed 11 hits in the route-going effort, his fifth of the season and second covering nine innings.

The Saints (35-7, 15-1) are off Wednesday before hosting Saint Xavier Thursday night at Silver Cross Field. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m.

APRIL 20:
USF 5, CALUMET COLLEGE OF ST. JOSEPH 2
USF 9, CALUMET COLLEGE OF ST. JOSEPH 1

JOLIET, ILL. -- University of St. Francis bounced back from Saturday's streak-breaking loss to Judson by sweeping Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.) in a Sunday afternoon doubleheader at Silver Cross Field. The Saints rallied to win the opener, 5-2, and pulled away to capture the nightcap easily, 9-1.

The Saints started slowly in game one and led just 1-0 after five innings on a solo home run by senior center fielder Brian Davis (Lyons Township H.S./La Grange, IL) in the second inning.

Calumet then pushed across a pair of runs in the sixth and put the Saints in a 2-1 hole.

USF (34-7, 14-1), as it has done so many times this season, responded with a big inning of its own in the bottom of the sixth.

Davis started things off with a single to right field. One out later, sophomore third baseman Andy Zurales (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) pushed Davis up to second with a base hit to left field. Junior designated hitter Karl Gotsch (Reavis H.S./Burbank, IL) then tied the game with a double to left field. After an intentional walk, junior pinch-hitter Jeff Dybala (Lake Park H.S./Roselle, IL) knocked home the eventual winning run with a sacrifice fly. USF added two more before the inning was over and starting pitcher Joe Koehler (Mount Carmel H.S./Worth, IL) closed out the complete game effort with a perfect seventh inning.

Davis and sophomore shortstop Steve Witczak (St. Rita H.S./Worth, IL) led the offense with two hits each in the first game.

Sophomore starting pitcher Brandon Kvistad (Leyden H.S./Northlake, IL) pushed his record to a perfect 7-0 with a distance performance in the 9-1 nightcap. He scattered seven hits, walked two and struck out five.

After a scoreless first inning, USF scored in its next five at bats to complete the sweep. Davis again was the offensive leader, belting his second home run of the day and his fifth of the season. He finished the game 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI. Senior left fielder Steve Pollard (Leyden H.S./Northlake, IL) went 3-for-3 with three RBI and also scored twice. Junior first baseman Steve Kehr (Lyons Township H.S./Countryside, IL) added a pair of hits to USF's 11-hit attack.

The CCAC-leading Saints are off Monday and travel to Chicago to play second-place Saint Xavier Tuesday at 3 p.m. in a single, nine-inning game. The two teams play each other again on Thursday in a 7 p.m. game under the lights at Silver Cross Field.

APRIL 19:
USF 3, JUDSON 0
JUDSON 6, USF 5

JOLIET, Ill. -- When University of St. Francis dropped a 12-8 decision at University of Illinois Chicago back on March 25, Saints long-time coach Gordie Gillespie suffered the 899th loss of his 56-year college baseball coaching career. Until Saturday afternoon at about 4 p.m. at Silver Cross Field, it appeared that college baseball's all-time winningest coach with 1,773 victories may never get that 900th setback.

But all good things must come to an end and USF's 17-game winning streak was stopped by Judson University as the Eagles rallied for a 6-5 win over the Saints in the second game of a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader. The Saints blanked Judson in the opener, 3-0.

USF (32-7, 12-1) pushed the winning skein to 17 games behind senior right-hander Jason Novak (Lockport H.S./Lockport, IL) in game one. Novak struck out 13, walked only two and allowed just four hits in pushing his record to 6-1. The Saints broke a scoreless deadlock with two runs in the bottom of the fifth and added one more in the sixth to give Novak all the runs he needed.

Judson (14-20, 11-7) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in game two, with a single run in the first and two more in the third off USF starting pitcher Adam Altobelli (Marist H.S./Oak Forest, IL).

The Saints finally broke through with a four-run fifth inning that was highlighted by a two-run homer off the bat of junior first baseman Steve Kehr (Lyons Township H.S./Countryside, IL). They also got an RBI single from sophomore center fielder David Heasley (Crystal Lake Central H.S./Spring Grove, IL).

Sophomore reliever Joe Koehler (Mount Carmel H.S./Worth, IL) replaced Altobelli in the sixth and got out of a jam with a double play ball to hold the 4-3 lead. Koehler then retired the first two hitters in the seventh and the No. 14 Saints were just one out away from another conference sweep and an 18-game winning streak.

But Judson's eighth and ninth hitters in the lineup hit soft singles to right field to put the tying and lead runs on base. Koehler then walked the leadoff hitter and Gillespie replaced him on the mound with junior Erik Panek (Lemont H.S./Lemont, IL).

Judson's Oscar DePablos greeted Panek with a bases-clearing triple to center field and Judson grabbed a 6-4 lead.

USF, though, would not give up.

Kehr and sophomore designated hitter Pat Grady (Sandburg H.S./Orland Park, IL) started the bottom of the seventh with singles. Senior left fielder Brian Davis (Lyons Township H.S./La Grange, IL) hit a sharp grounder to second that resulted in a double play with Kehr moving to third base. Junior right fielder Dan Higgins (Marist H.S./Chicago, IL), who leads the Saints with a .466 batting average, then drilled a double to left field to score Kehr and cut the margin to one run at 6-5.

Sophomore third baseman Andy Zurales (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) lined a single to left field but it was hit too sharply to score pinch-runner Tom Whelan (St. Rita H.S./Chicago, IL) from second base. After an intentional walk was issued to junior catcher Karl Gotsch (Reavis H.S./Burbank, IL), Heasley grounded out to second base to end the game and the Saints' 17-game streak.

The hot-hitting Saints were held to just 14 hits total in the two games. Grady and Gotsch led the way with three hits apiece over the two games.

USF still holds a two-game lead in the loss column in the CCAC standings over Saint Xavier (7-3) and a three-game edge over Purdue-North central (14-4). CCAC teams play a 20-game regular-season slate.

The Saints play host to Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.) on Sunday in a noon CCAC doubleheader at Silver Cross Field.

APRIL 18:
USF 9, OLIVET NAZARENE 5

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- University of St. Francis and coach Gordie Gillespie have reached the Sweet 16 -- in consecutive victories, that is.

Three pitchers who have combined to pitch just one-third of an inning since the Saints came back north from their season-opening Florida trip in March led USF (31-6, 11-0) to its 16th straight win with a 9-5 victory over Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Olivet Nazarene in a game that did not count in the CCAC standings.

Junior Dan Leddy (Maine South H.S./Park Ridge, IL) drew the starting assignment and gave up a pair of runs -- one unearned -- in one-and-two-thirds innings before freshman Mark Ahern (Homewood-Flossmoor H.S./Homewood, IL) got the final out of the second inning to keep the Saints in a 2-2 tie.

Ahern worked his way out of a no outs, bases-loaded jam in a scoreless third and had two outs in the fourth before freshman lefty Mitch La Buda (Downers Grove Horth H.S./Downers Grove, IL) came on to end the inning with the Saints holding on to a 6-4 lead.

La Buda, who last pitched in a game on March 8 vs. Aquinas (Mich.) in Sanford, Fla., was nearly flawless over the remaining five innings. He was touched for one earned run on just two hits, with one strikeout and three walks. His strong effort gave him his first collegiate save while Ahern logged his first college win after getting his first save just 24 hours earlier against St. Ambrose (Iowa).

USF jumped all over Olivet for the second time in three days and recorded its third win in as many tries against the Tigers. The Saints had scored nine runs in the first inning of Wednesday's 24-8 CCAC win in Bourbonnais and had to settle for just two runs in the opening inning on Friday. Sophomore shortstop Steve Witczak (St. Rita H.S./Chicago, IL) set the tone of the afternoon with a line drive single on the game's very first pitch. Witczak went on to finish 4-for-5 at the plate with three runs scored. Juniors Steve Kehr (Lyons Township H.s./Countryside, IL) and Dan Higgins (Marist H.S./Chicago, IL) added RBI singles in the inning to give the Saints an early 2-0 lead.

USF took the lead for good with a three-run third that included an RBI single by senior center fielder Brian Davis (Lyons Township H.S./La Grange, IL) and a two-run single off the bat of junior designated hitter Karl Gotsch (Reavis H.S./Burbank, IL).

The Saints added another run in the fourth when Witczak tripled and scored on Kehr's sacrifice fly. Gotsch gave the Saints a big cushion with a three-run homer in the fifth, his first round-tripper of the season and a blast that gave him five RBI for the game.

USF, ranked No. 14 in this week's NAIA national poll, has not lost since dropping a 12-8 decision at NCAA Division I Illinois-Chicago back on March 25. The 16 straight wins still leave the club a good distance shy of the school's longest winning skein. Gillespie's 1993 St. Francis club ran off 27 wins in a row on its way to the NAIA national championship.

USF begins a stretch of six straight CCAC games Saturday with a noon doubleheader against Judson University at Silver Cross Field. Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.) visits Joliet for a twin bill at noon on Sunday.

APRIL 17:
USF 13, ST. AMBROSE (IA) 3
USF 6, ST. AMBROSE (IA) 4

JOLIET, Ill. --- University of St. Francis’ bats went to town for the second day in a row pounding out 24 more hits in just 11 innings as the Saints added to their winning streak, which reached 15 games following 13-3 and 6-4 victories over St. Ambrose University (Iowa) Thursday afternoon at Silver Cross Field.

One day earlier, the No. 14-ranked Saints totaled 20 hits in a seven-inning romp of Olivet Nazarene University, 24-8.

USF (30-6) allowed St. Ambrose (22-10) to gain initial 1-0 leads in each end of the doubleheader before going to work. After tying the first game 1-1 in the bottom of the first inning, the Saints scored in each of their other four at bats, beginning with three runs in the second and five more in the third to build a 9-2 lead.

St. Francis collected another pair of runs in each of its final two innings with junior rightfielder Dan Higgins’ (Marist H.S./Chicago, IL) two-run home run in the fifth inning invoking the 10-run rule.

Higgins and junior first baseman Steve Kehr (Lyons Township H.S./Countryside, IL) posted near-identical numbers in the game, going 3-for-4 each with two RBI. Higgins gained the upper hand in the runs column, 3-2, but Kehr totaled more extra-base hits with his double and triple.

Sophomore catcher Pat Grady (Carl Sandburg H.S./Orland Park, IL), freshman second baseman Artie Morales (Joliet Township H.S./Joliet, IL) and sophomore third baseman Andy Zurales (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) all collected a pair of hits with the former two driving in a pair of runs each.

Sophomore shortstop Steve Witczak (St. Rita H.S./Chicago, IL) led the RBI attack with three, two of which came on a single to spark the Saints’ five-run third.

Sophomore righthander Brandon Kvistad (West Leyden H.S./Northlake, IL) was the benefactor of the offensive outburst, remaining unbeaten on the mound (7-0). He yielded seven hits and three walks in the five-inning affair.

In the nightcap, freshman righthander David Hexdall (Morris H.S./Morris, IL) (3-1) staved off numerous threats by St. Ambrose to earn the victory, working the first 6 2/3 innings before giving way to freshman Mark Ahern (Homewood-Flossmoor H.S./Homewood, IL). Ahern walked the first batter he faced in the seventh to load the bases before Kyle Merten lined a shot to second, where Morales was positioned perfectly to end the Bees’ two-run rally.

Hexdall, who was making his first appearance on the mound since March 6, also left runners stranded on the basepaths in four of the other six innings, including a runner at third in the third, fourth and fifth innings besides the seventh. In all, St. Ambrose left 10 runners on base for the game.

Two-run doubles by junior first baseman Jeff Dybala (Lake Park H.S./Roselle, IL) in a three-run third and senior pinch hitter Steve Pollard (West Leyden H.S./Northlake, IL) one inning later gave the Saints a 5-2 lead after four innings.

Grady, who added two more hits in the second game to go 4-for-6 with 3 RBI on the day, provided an insurance run in the sixth to make it a 6-2 game before St. Ambrose made things interesting in the seventh.

The two victories kept the Saints’ record unblemished at Silver Cross Field this year (10-0) and extended their home winning streak to 17 games dating back to last year.

APRIL 16:
USF 24, OLIVET NAZARENE 8

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Weather prevented No. 13-ranked University of St. Francis from playing any games last week and the NAIA raters "rewarded" the Saints by dropping them one spot in this week's poll to No. 14. After the top half of the first inning Wednesday afternoon, Olivet Nazarene University's Tigers would surely be the first to tell those national raters that they were sadly mistaken with their votes.

USF (28-6, 11-0) sent 13 players to the plate, racked up eight hits and scored nine runs before ONU even had a chance to pick up a bat and the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference rout was on. The Fighting Saints batted around three times in the game that was shortened to seven innings due to the 10-run rule. After getting nine in the first, USF scored two more in the third, eight more in the fourth and five more in the fifth to push the lead all the way to 24-4.

Offensive heroes were plentiful for coach Gordie Gillespie's club who won its 13th consecutive game and remained atop the CCAC standings with a perfect 11-0 league record.

Eight of the nine starters got hits and the ninth, freshman second baseman Artie Morales (Joliet Township H.S./Joliet, IL), walked in all four of his plate appearances and scored three runs. Senior center fielder Brian Davis (Lyons Township H.S./La Grange, IL) and sophomore catcher Pat Grady (Sandburg H.S./Orland Park, IL) were the most productive, combining for five hits including two home runs, a triple and a double. They also combined to drive home 11 of USF's 24 total runs.

Davis started things off in the first inning with a bases loaded triple. He added a long three-run homer to center field in the fifth. Grady doubled home a run in the first, belted a two-run homer in the third and singled home two more runs in the fifth.

Junior right fielder Dan Higgins (Marist H.S./Chicago, IL) also homered for the Saints, collecting his team-high sixth blast with a two-run shot in the fifth. Higgins finished the game 4-for-5 with three RBI.

Sophomore shortstop Steve Witczak (St. Rita H.S./Chicago, IL), junior first baseman Steve Kehr (Lyons Township H.S./Countryside, IL), and senior left fielder Steve Pollard (Leyden H.S./Northlake, IL) all added three hits apiece to USF's 20-hit parade.

Junior pitcher Erik Panek (Lemont H.S./Lemont, IL) hurled the first six innings and ran his perfect record to 5-0. Sophomore Joe Koehler (Mount Carmel H.S./Worth, IL) pitched a scoreless seventh.

The busy Saints seek to push their winning streak to 14 and then 15 on Thursday with a nonconference home doubleheader against St. Ambrose (IA). The Bees handed the Saints one of their six losses on the season when the two clubs split a twin bill in Davenport back on March 19. USF has not lost since falling 12-8 to NCAA Division I Illinois-Chicago back on March 25.

APRIL 15:
USF 5, TRINITY CHRISTIAN 4
USF 7, TRINITY CHRISTIAN 3

PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. --- Junior Jeff Dybala’s (Lake Park H.S./Roselle, IL) pinch-hit two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning kept NAIA No. 13-ranked University of St. Francis’ winning streak alive in the first game of a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader with Trinity Christian College and then the Saints scored in each of the first four innings of the nightcap to extend the streak to an even dozen games with 5-4 and 7-3 victories Tuesday afternoon.

Sophomore Joe Koehler (Mount Carmel H.S./Worth, IL) (7-1) gained the first-game victory with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief and then worked the final three innings of the nightcap to pick up his third save.

Dybala’s home run, a one-out shot to centerfield, was his first as a Saint and wiped out a 4-3 deficit.

St. Francis, which scored an unearned run in the first inning, trailed since the third inning when Adam Hoornaert drove two runs home to put Trinity Christian up 3-1.

Sophomore shortstop Steve Witczak (St. Rita H.S./Chicago, IL) cut the deficit in half with a run-scoring double in the fifth only to have Trinity Christian (7-15, 4-8) match that run in the bottom half of the inning.

USF (27-6, 10-0) gambled in the sixth inning and it cost the Saints the opportunity to tie the contest when pinchrunner Tom Serruto (Glenbard West H.S./Glen Ellyn, IL) was caught stealing just prior to senior leftfielder Brian Davis’ (Lyons Township H.S./LaGrange, IL) solo home run to rightfield. It was Davis’ second hit of the game.

Junior rightfielder Dan Higgins (Marist H.S./Chicago, IL) set up Dybala’s heroics with a single to start the seventh inning.

Sophomore catcher/designated hitter Pat Grady (Carl Sandburg H.S./Orland Park, IL), who went 3-for-3 in the opener, drove in two of the Saints’ first three runs in the second game with a sacrifice fly in the first and a double in the second as USF built a 7-1 lead after four innings.

Junior first baseman Steve Kehr (Lyons Township H.S./Countryside, IL) doubled and scored in each of his first three plate appearances, while junior catcher Karl Gotsch (Reavis H.S./Burbank, IL) added another two hits and one run batted in.

Senior Jason Novak (Lockport H.S./Lockport, IL) worked the first four innings to gain the win on the mound, his fifth against just one loss. Novak’s wildness in the fifth (one walk, one hit batsman), which loaded the bases, forced head coach Gordie Gillespie to go back to Koehler, who got out of the inning with a double play and a ground out.

The games were the first two played by the Saints in nine days with their last two being played on April 6 in a doubleheader versus Cardinal Stritch.

APRIL 6:
USF 16, CARDINAL STRITCH (WI) 0
USF 10, CARDINAL STRITCH (WI) 0

JOLIET, Ill. – NAIA No. 17-ranked University of St. Francis extended its season-long winning streak to 10 games and pushed its Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference league-leading record to 8-0 with a pair of easy wins Sunday over visiting Cardinal Stritch University (WI). The Fighting Saints (25-6, 8-0) whitewashed Stritch (1-18, 1-5) 16-0 in the first game and registered another shutout with a 10-0 win in the nightcap.

USF broke open game one with a 13-run second inning in which it sent 17 batters to the plate. Junior first baseman Steve Kehr (Lyons Township H.S./Countryside, IL) scored twice in the inning and also delivered a three-run double that plated the final three of the 13 runs scored in the frame. Freshman second baseman Artie Morales (Joliet Township H.S./Joliet, IL) had two hits in the inning and also had three RBI in the frame. Junior designated hitter Jeff Dybala (Lake Park H.S./Roselle, IL) also had two hits and a pair of RBI in the big inning.

Sophomore starting pitcher Brandon Kvistad (Leyden H.S./Northlake, IL) went all five innings and allowed only two hits with four strikeouts. He improved his record to 5-0.

Game two featured more of the same with the Saints getting their runs in smaller doses.

USF quickly took control by scoring three runs in each of the first and second innings to jump out to a 6-0 lead. They added one more in the fourth and closed the game out thanks to the 10-run rule with three more in the bottom of the sixth.

Three players enjoyed two-hit games. Senior center fielder Brian Davis (Lyons Township H.S./La Grange, IL) went 2-for-2 with a double and three RBI. Sophomore David Heasley (Crystal Lake Central H.S./Spring Grove, IL) replaced Davis in the lineup and went 2-for-2 himself with a double and two RBI. Sophomore shortstop Steve Witczak (St. Rita H.S./Chicago, IL) also added two hits, a run scored and a stolen base.

Sophomore starting pitcher Joe Koehler (Mount Carmel H.S./Worth, IL) struck out the first five hitters he faced and did not allow a hit through four full innings. He finished with a three-hitter and nine strikeouts and pushed his record to 6-1.

USF freshmen Shawn Hohenbery (Princeville H.S./Princeville, IL) and Brent Walters (Lisle H.S./Lisle, IL) each collected their first collegiate hits during the twin bill.

USF is now off until Wednesday when it plays host to Concordia University Chicago at 3:30 p.m. in a single game at Silver Cross Field. That starts a busy stretch for the Saints who return to CCAC action with a single home game Thursday at 3 p.m. vs. Saint Xavier and a single road game at Illinois Tech on Friday. The Saints travel to CCAC foe Trinity Christian for a doubleheader on Saturday and play league foe Robert Morris in a non-conference twin bill at Bensenville next Sunday (April 13).

APRIL 5:
USF 1, TRINITY INTERNATIONAL 0
USF 10, TRINITY INTERNATIONAL 1

DEERFIELD, Ill. – Senior left-handed pitcher Adam Altobelli (Marist H.S./Oak Forest, IL) fired a two-hit shutout in the opener and senior Jason Novak (Lockport H.S./Lockport, IL) dealed a three-hitter in the nightcap as NAIA No. 17 University of St. Francis pushed its winning streak to eight games with a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader sweep at Trinity International on Saturday afternoon. USF (23-6, 6-0) won the first game 1-0 and ran away from the Trojans (10-11, 5-6) 10-1 in the second outing.

Altobelli allowed just a pair of infield singles, struck out three and walked only one in moving his record to 5-2 on the season. The Saints’ defense backed him up with two double plays as Altobelli faced just 24 batters, three above the minimum in the seven-inning game.

USF scored the game’s only run in the fourth inning. Junior first baseman Steve Kehr (Lyons Township H.S./Countryside, IL) started the inning with a double and moved to third on sophomore designated hitter Pat Grady’s (Sandburg H.S./Orland Park, IL) single. Kehr then scampered home on left fielder Brian Davis’ (Lyons Township H.S./La Grange, IL) fielder’s choice ground ball.

The Saints managed only five hits themselves in the first game, with Grady collecting two of them.

USF had a pair of five-run innings in the easy win in game two.

The Saints scored the first five tallies in the third, with the big blow being a two-run single off the bat of junior designated hitter Karl Gotsch (Reavis H.S./Burbank, IL).

USF’s five-run fifth was keyed by run-scoring hits from sophomore shortstop Steve Witczak (St. Rita H.S./Chicago, IL), Kehr and Grady.

Novak, now 5-0, gave up a run-scoring single in the second inning and two more singles in the fifth. He struck out six and walked four and, like Altobelli in the opener, got help from his defense via a pair of nifty double plays.

USF notched 11 hits in the nightcap, with Witczak, Kehr, Grady, sophomore third baseman Andy Zurales (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) and Gotsch all collecting two hits apiece.

The Saints, who lead the CCAC with a perfect 8-0 slate, return home Sunday to face league foe Cardinal Stritch (WI) in a noon doubleheader at Silver Cross Field.

APRIL 3:
USF 5, OLIVET NAZARENE 4

JOLIET, Ill. --- University of St. Francis wrapped up a perfect six-game homestand, but had to do it the hard way, overcoming five errors – three of which led to runs – as the Saints made it six wins in a row with their 5-4 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference victory over Olivet Nazarene University on Thursday at Silver Cross Field.

Sophomore centerfielder David Heasley (Crystal Lake Central H.S./Spring Grove, IL) came up big for the Saints not once, but twice on the day. First, he thwarted an Olivet Nazarene run in the third inning when he gunned down ONU pinch runner Michael Tuttle at the plate after a single up the middle. Then, he personally offset the three unearned runs allowed by USF’s lackluster defense with his three runs batted in. The latter two RBI came on his two-run double past a shallow left side of the outfield in the seventh inning to put the Saints up for good, 5-4.

Heasley was also credited with a RBI on a rare first baseman-to-pitcher-to-catcher double play in a two-run second inning. Junior rightfielder Dan Higgins (Marist H.S./Chicago, IL), who was thrown out at the plate on the play, pushed across USF’s first run with a double to left center field.

Higgins, who was part of a controversial call in the second inning, also started the two-run rally in the seventh with a leadoff single. Junior catcher Karl Gotsch (Reavis H.S./Burbank, IL) moved him to third on a double down the right field line, setting the stage for Heasley’s heroics.

As for the controversy, Olivet Nazarene (13-10, 3-4) looked to draw first blood going up 2-0 when designated hitter Joe Peachey’s fly ball to deep right field with a runner on base was initially ruled not a catch and Peachey wound up rounding the bases for an inside-the-park home run. Higgins claimed he made a diving over-the-head catch at the warning track and, after the umpires conferred, the decision was overturned and Peachey was ruled out on the play.

Olivet Nazarene did get on the board one inning later, making it a 2-1 game, but the Saints got that run right back in the bottom half of the inning when junior first baseman Steve Kehr (Lyons Township H.S./Countryside, IL) and junior designated hitter Pat Grady (Carl Sandburg H.S./Orland Park, IL) pulled off a double steal with Kehr stealing home.

USF starter Erik Panek (Lemont H.S./Lemont, IL), who struck out six batters, got out of three jams in the first five innings, but could not overcome the Saints’ fourth error of the game as well as his first two walks of the day and a balk in the sixth. ONU catcher Zach Sutton made Panek pay with a two-out, two-run double to right field putting Olivet up for the first time, 4-3.

Sophomore Joe Koehler (Mount Carmel H.S./Worth, IL) (5-1) came on in relief of Panek in the seventh inning and, after yielding a hit and watching another Tiger reach base on an error, retired the final eight batters he faced to earn the victory.

Senior leftfielder Brian Davis (Lyons Township H.S./LaGrange, IL) led the Saint offense with three hits.

St. Francis, which moved up one spot in the national rankings to No. 17 on Wednesday, kept its conference record perfect at 4-0, while improving to 21-6 overall with its season-high sixth straight win.

USF hits the road on Saturday to face Trinity International University in a 12 p.m. doubleheader before returning to Silver Cross Field on Sunday for a noon doubleheader with Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.).

APRIL 1:
USF 5, ILLINOIS TECH 1

JOLIET, Ill. --- Junior first baseman Steve Kehr (Lyons Township H.S./Countryside, IL) registered the first two-home run game of his career as part of an overall 4-for-4 day at the plate and three University of St. Francis pitchers combined on a three-hitter as the NAIA No. 18-ranked Saints won for the fifth time in a row, defeating Illinois Institute of Technology, 5-1, in a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference contest at Silver Cross Field Tuesday afternoon.

The five straight wins tied a season high for the club, which has also won 13 of its last 16 decisions.

Kehr’s solo home runs to right field in the first and fifth innings were all the offense necessary on another cold and blustery day as USF (20-6, 3-0) just missed out on its third shutout in four games. Illinois Tech (5-10, 1-3) avoided the blanking with a run on a double play ball in the ninth inning off lefthander Adam Altobelli (Marist H.S./Chicago, IL), who earned his second save of the season with three innings of relief.

Altobelli, sophomore Brandon Kvistad (West Leyden H.S./Northlake, IL) and senior Jason Novak (Lockport H.S./Lockport, IL) cruised through the first eight innings, where the trio faced only two batters over the minimum.

Kvistad allowed a single to left to open the game before retiring each of the other nine batters he faced, including a pair on strikeouts. Novak, who gained the win to move to 3-1, followed with three innings of hitless baseball and also faced just ten batters. He did walk two, but erased one on a pickoff in his first inning of work. Altobelli also picked off an Illinois Tech runner in the eighth inning after a single and struck out three of the first six batters he faced. He lost his control in the ninth, sandwiching his second single allowed in between a pair of walks to open the frame before getting the double play and a fly out to end the contest.

In between Kehr’s two home runs, sophomore center fielder David Heasley (Crystal Lake Central H.S./Spring Grove, IL) provided an RBI single in the fourth as part of a two-hit game for him.

Kehr, who doubled in the third for his second hit, also started a two-run seventh inning with a leadoff single and later scored his third run of the game on a Bryan Davis (Lyons Township H.S./LaGrange, IL) infield single. The Saints added their final run on a wild pitch.

USF will look to remain perfect at home on Thursday when it wraps up its season-opening six-game homestand facing Olivet Nazarene University at 3:30 p.m.

MARCH 30:
USF 10, ROBERT MORRIS 0
USF 3, ROBERT MORRIS 2

JOLIET, Ill. --- University of St. Francis junior righthander Erik Panek (Lemont H.S./Lemont, IL) performed double duty on the Silver Cross Field mound Sunday afternoon, earning both a victory and a save as the Saints opened up Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play with a doubleheader sweep of Robert Morris College, winning 10-0 and 3-2.

Panek (4-0) posted his first shutout of the season in the opener before closing out Game 2 with three straight strikeouts to gain his first save of the season and preserve USF’s fourth win in a row and its 12th in the last 15 contests.

Combining Panek’s three K’s in the nightcap with his seven in the opener, he totaled ten on the day against only three hits and one walk. Six of those strikeouts came in the first four innings of the six-inning opener, where he retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced. Two double plays over the last two innings got him out of jams with runners on first and second base and only one out and no outs, respectively, in those innings.

By that time, however, the Saints (19-6, 2-0) had already built a comfortable 6-0 lead highlighted by a five-run fourth inning.

Junior first baseman Steve Kehr’s (Lyons Township H.S./Countryside, IL) RBI double got the Saints on the board initially in the third inning before sophomore center fielder David Heasley’s (Crystal Lake Central H.S./Spring Grove, IL) bases-loaded single drove in two runs to start USF’s big inning. Sophomore shortstop Steve Witczak (St. Rita H.S./Chicago, IL) added a run-scoring single with sophomore catcher Pat Grady (Carl Sandburg H.S./Orland Park, IL) following with a sacrifice fly.

St. Francis invoked the 10-run rule in the sixth when sophomore third baseman Andy Zurales (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) provided a two-run triple and junior right fielder Dan Higgins (Marist H.S./Chicago, IL) drove him in with a single.

Zurales, Higgins, Grady and senior left fielder Brian Davis (Lyons Township H.S./Countryside, IL) all collected a pair of hits in the first game. The latter three also came up clutch in the nightcap.

Grady drove in the game-tying run twice on a sacrifice fly in the third inning and a two-out single back up the middle in the fifth. That set the table for junior catcher Karl Gotsch’s (Reavis H.S./Burbank, IL) eventual game-winning RBI single through the left side of the infield in the sixth after Davis singled to open the inning and Higgins coaxed a one-out walk.

Sophomore righthander Joe Koehler (Mount Carmel H.S./Worth, IL) (4-1) went the first six innings to pick up a gritty win on the mound. He had to work out of no less than three jams after allowing an initial run in the first inning and did, leaving Robert Morris runners stranded at third base in the third, fourth and fifth innings.

After winning a pair of doubleheaders over the weekend, St. Francis takes Monday off before hosting Illinois Institute of Technology Tuesday at 3 p.m.

MARCH 29:
USF 7, RIPON (WI) 2
USF 3, RIPON (WI) 0

JOLIET, Ill. – Father’s Day normally comes in June. At Silver Cross Field on Saturday, though, the University of St. Francis baseball squad pushed that special day up a couple of months for their Hall of Fame coach Gordie Gillespie.

The NAIA No. 18 Fighting Saints (17-6) scored six times in the bottom half of the sixth inning to post a 7-2 win in the opener and then had two senior pitchers combine for a nine-inning no-hitter in the 3-0 nightcap as USF swept visiting Ripon College (WI) in a nonconference twin bill.

The day was especially pleasant for Gillespie. The Saints mentor, now in his 56th season as a college baseball coach -- which includes 10 years at Ripon before returning to St. Francis in 2006 -- was able to earn two wins against his oldest son Bob Gillespie who both preceded and succeeded him as head coach at Ripon. Not only was Bob on the other side of the field, but the elder Gillespie -- college baseball’s all-time winningest coach with 1,758 victories against 899 losses -- also had the rare opportunity to coach for the first time against one of his grandchildren. Scott Gillespie, Bob’s son, started at second base for Ripon and posted a pair of hits in the first game.

The Saints made sure that Gillespie did not suffer his 900th career loss at the hands of family members.

USF trailed 2-1 through five innings in the seven-inning opener but finally got things going in the bottom half of the sixth. But they needed a little help from Ripon (8-3) to get the rally going.

After a two-out error gave the Saints new life, USF got a run-scoring single from sophomore third baseman Andy Zurales (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) to tie the game and a clutch, bases-loaded double from freshman second baseman Artie Morales (Joliet Township H.S./Joliet, IL) that plated three more runs to put USF ahead for good. The Saints added another run on a double off the bat of sophomore shortstop Steve Witczak (St. Rita H.S./Chicago, IL) and one more courtesy of another Ripon error.

Sophomore Brandon Kvistad (Leyden H.S./Northlake, IL) tossed six innings of five-hit ball to move his record to 4-0.

Senior right-hander Jason Novak (Lockport H.S./Lockport, IL) and senior southpaw Adam Altobelli (Marist H.S./Oak Forest, IL) controlled game two by combining for the nine-inning no-hitter.

Novak (2-1) worked the first five innings, striking out four and walking two batters. He worked his way out of the only jam of the game, striking out the final two hitters in the fifth after a pair of runners reached base with one out on an error and a walk.

Altobelli retired 12 of the 13 batters he faced and walked just one over the final four innings to earn his first save of the season.

USF got the only run it needed on catcher Karl Gotsch’s (Reavis H.S./Burbank, IL) RBI double in the fourth. The Saints added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth on Dan Higgins’ (Marist H.S./Chicago, IL) two-run homer, his team-leading fifth of the young season.

Zurales had five hits on the day to lead the offense. Higgins had a pair of doubles in the first game to go along with his homer in the nightcap.

USF opens Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play on Sunday with a noon doubleheader at Silver Cross Field against Robert Morris College.

MARCH 25:
ILLINOIS CHICAGO 12, USF 8

CHICAGO – Sophomore catcher Pat Grady (Sandburg H.S./Orland Park, IL) hit a pair of home runs and had four runs batted in but it wasn’t enough as NCAA Division I Illinois Chicago rallied from a 5-1 deficit to defeat University of St. Francis, 12-8, Tuesday afternoon at Les Miller Field.

Grady, who now has a share of the team lead with four home runs on the season, belted a solo shot in the second inning to tie the game at 1-1 and then gave USF a four-run lead in the third with a three-run blast over the left field fence.

UIC picked up a single run in the third and then tied the game at 5-5 with three tallies in the bottom of the fifth.

The Saints regained the lead one more time on senior Steve Pollard’s (Leyden H.S./Northlake, IL) run-scoring single in the sixth, but UIC came up with three more runs in its half of the sixth to take the lead for good.

The Saints had their chances but left the bases loaded in both the fifth and sixth innings and left two runners stranded in the eighth after slicing the UIC lead to 12-8.

USF collected 15 hits on the day, with 12 of them coming from the first five hitters in the Saints’ batting order. Pollard and junior right fielder Dan Higgins (Marist H.S./Chicago, IL) each led the way with three hits. Grady had the two home runs and senior left fielder Brian Davis (Lyons Township H.S./La Grange, IL) added a pair of doubles and an RBI.

USF used four pitchers, as Saints’ head coach Gordie Gillespie followed his pregame plan to use all four of his starting pitchers in the game. Junior Erik Panek (Lemont H.S./Lemont, IL) worked the first three frames and allowed one run on two hits. Senior Jason Novak (Lockport H.S./Lockport, IL) was touched for three runs in two innings of work. Senior Adam Altobelli (Marist H.S./Oak Forest, IL) was tagged with the loss and was charged with six earned runs in one and one-third innings. Sophomore Joe Koehler (Mount Carmel H.S./Worth, IL) finished the game and surrendered a pair of runs, one unearned, in one and two-thirds innings.

The Saints, now 15-6 on the year, are scheduled to play their home openers Saturday with a doubleheader against Ripon (WI) beginning at 10 a.m. at Silver Cross Field.

Ripon is coached by Bob Gillespie, the oldest son of the USF skipper, who succeeded his father as Ripon’s coach when the elder Gillespie returned to coach at St. Francis in 2005.

MARCH 19:
ST. AMBROSE (IA) 9, USF 8
USF 9, ST. AMBROSE (IA) 5

DAVENPORT, Iowa – University of St. Francis let the opener slip away in the final two innings for a 9-8 loss, but the Saints bounced back to finish the afternoon on a high note with a 9-5 victory in the nightcap of a nonconference doubleheader Wednesday afternoon at No. 13 (tie) St. Ambrose.

The Saints (15-5), who narrowly missed this week’s NAIA top 25 and stand 28th in the new poll, fell behind 3-0 in the first two innings of the opener. But USF charged right back with three runs in the third and three more in the fourth to take a 6-3 lead over the Bees (10-3).

Things stayed that way until the bottom of the fifth inning when SAU pushed across an unearned run after two were out.

USF still was in control at 6-4 but the Saints unraveled in the sixth. Starting pitcher Adam Altobelli (Marist H.S./Oak Forest, IL) left with a runner on first and one out after scattering seven hits over five-and-one-third innings. Joe Koehler (Mount Carmel H.S./Worth, IL) relieved Altobelli and surrendered three straight hits that allowed the Bees to tie the score at six apiece.

USF had a chance to end the inning right there but a misplayed potential double play ground ball allowed the lead run to score and another error followed by a double let two more SAU runners cross the plate.

The Saints got a two-out, two-run home run off the bat of third baseman Andy Zurales (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) in the seventh inning but it was not enough to make up the three-run deficit.

Left fielder Brian Davis (Lyons Township H.S./La Grange, IL) led the Saints with three hits in the opener and shortstop Steve Witczak (St. Rita H.S./Chicago, IL) and designated hitter Steve Pollard (Leyden H.S./Northlake, IL) each added two hits.

The Saints didn’t let the disappointing loss get them down for long as they jumped on St. Ambrose for three runs in the top of the first inning of the nightcap. Witczak led the game off with a triple and scored one out later on Pat Grady’s (Sandburg H.S./Orland Park, IL) sacrifice fly that was dropped in right field.

Davis made the Bees pay for that error with a long home run to right field that scored Grady ahead of him to make it 3-0.

USF got one more in the second on a RBI groundout by Witczak and plated two more in the fourth. Witczak again was the focal point, doubling and scoring the second run when he stole home.

USF made it 9-0 in the fifth on an RBI single by right fielder Dan Higgins (Marist H.S./Chicago, IL), a run-scoring groundout by freshman second baseman Artie Morales (Joliet Township H.S./Joliet, IL) and a hit batter -- Karl Gotsch (Reavis H.S./Burbank, IL) -- with the bases loaded.

Starting pitcher Brandon Kvistad (Leyden H.S./Northlake, IL) tossed the first four innings and blanked the Bees for the win (3-0). Senior Jason Novak (Lockport H.S./Lockport, IL) worked a scoreless fifth but left the game in the sixth when he was struck on the leg by a line drive single.

Junior Erik Panek (Lemont H.S./Lemont, IL) came on in relief and finished for the Saints.

Witczak was the lone Saint with multiple hits as he collected both a triple and double.

USF entertains Indiana University Northwest on Saturday at Silver Cross Field in a doubleheader slated to start at noon.

MARCH 16:
USF 6, MARIAN (IN) 2
USF 2, MARIAN (IN) 0

INDIANAPOLIS --- University of St. Francis continued its mastery of Marian College (Ind.) on Sunday behind the pitching of junior Erik Panek and sophomore Joe Koehler as the Saints swept a pair of games from the Knights, winning 6-2 and 2-0.

The two wins concluded a three-game sweep of Marian over the weekend and made USF a perfect 4-0 against the Knights this season. The initial win came on March 9 on the Saints’ Florida trip, where Panek (Lemont H.S./Lemont, IL) struck out 11 batters and scattered seven hits in a 5-3, nine-inning decision.

On Sunday, Panek was even more stingy, allowing just two hits, including only one – an infield single – through the first five innings. The righthander did get himself into a jam in the sixth inning sandwiching a pair of walks around his only other hit allowed leading to a pair of runs and erasing his shutout bid.

By that time, USF (14-4) had already built a comfortable 6-0 lead with a pair of three-run innings in the first and third. An error to start the game led to the first three runs being unearned with junior first baseman Steve Kehr (Lyons Township H.S./Countryside, IL), senior left fielder Brian Davis (Lyons Township H.S./LaGrange, IL) and junior designated hitter Jeff Dybala (Lake Park H.S./Roselle, IL) driving in the tallies.

Junior right fielder Dan Higgins (Marist H.S./Chicago, IL) made it a 5-0 game with the first of his two doubles as part of a 3-for-3 game for him. Higgins then scored on a David Heasley (Crystal Lake Central H.S./Spring Grove, IL) single.

Panek finished off the affair with a 1-2-3 seventh inning to earn his third complete-game victory in as many starts, striking out four against two walks in the process.

In the second game, Marian’s Mike Keltz had a no-hitter going through the first four innings before the Saints loaded the bases to start the fifth. They failed to score in that inning, but came up with two runs in the sixth when senior left fielder Steve Pollard (West Leyden H.S./Northlake, IL) opened the frame with a triple and scored on Kehr’s RBI single. Kehr eventually came around to score on a two-out single by junior catcher Karl Gotsch (Reavis H.S./Burbank, IL), who went 2-for-3 in the game.

That was all Koehler (Mount Carmel H.S./Worth, IL) needed in matching Panek’s 3-0 start and earning his first collegiate shutout. After allowing two singles in the second, he yielded just one single in each of the next three innings for the five-hit blanking. Koehler also collected a pair of strikeouts and did not walk a batter.

USF, which has won seven of its last eight games, opens its home season Monday (3 p.m.) at Silver Cross Field against Waldorf College (Iowa).

MARCH 15:
USF 7, MARIAN (IN) 2
INDIANA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 8, USF 4

INDIANAPOLIS -- Saturday started off well for the University of St. Francis and senior lefthander Adam Altobelli (Marist H.S./Oak Forest, IL) in a 7-2 victory over Marian College (IN), but the ending was a different story for the Saints and senior hurler Jason Novak (Lockport H.S./Lockport, IL) in an 8-4, second-game defeat at the hands of Indiana Institute of Technology.

Altobelli helped extend USF’s winning streak to a season-high five games in the opener with his nine-strikeout, complete-game performance. After a shaky first inning where he allowed one run and two of his three hits, Altobelli (2-1) was masterful retiring 11 batters in a row and not yielding a hit over the next five innings. Tiring in the seventh, he walked his fourth and fifth batters of the game, while also giving up his final hit of the day leading to Marian’s second run.

Junior first baseman Steve Kehr (Lyons Township H.S./Countryside, IL) accounted for each of USF’s first three runs with a two-run single in the third to put the Saints up for good, 2-1, and a sacrifice fly in the fifth.

St. Francis (12-4) took full advantage of shoddy defensive play on the part of Marian (4-5) in the latter inning as well as in the sixth with each of the Saints’ next four runs all being unearned, including three in the sixth to open the game up. Senior designated hitter Steve Pollard (West Leyden H.S./Northlake, IL) drove in one of the runs with his second hit of the game.

Junior right fielder Dan Higgins (Marist H.S./Chicago, IL) pushed across USF’s final run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

In the nightcap, Novak (1-1) struggled from the very beginning giving up four hits and one walk in the first inning when Indiana Tech (6-4) scored twice. The Warriors used three more hits in the third to make it a 3-0 advantage.

Aided by three hits and a pair of wild pitches, the Saints were able to cut that deficit down to 3-2 in the fourth inning, but could not push the game-tying run home from second base with only one out.

Three walks, including one with the bases loaded, enabled Indiana Tech to get those two runs right back in the top half of the next inning before putting the game away with a three-run seventh.

St. Francis did mount one last threat in its last at bat, gaining a pair of runs on the second of sophomore shortstop Steve Witczak’s (St. Rita H.S./Chicago, IL) two hits and Kehr’s second sacrifice fly of the day. The game ended with the Saints having the game-tying run at the plate.

Junior designated hitter Jeff Dybala (Lake Park H.S./Roselle, IL) was the only other Saint besides Witczak to collect two hits in the second game.

Marian, 0-2 versus St. Francis this year, hosts the Saints in a 10 a.m. EDT doubleheader on Sunday.

MARCH 9:
USF 5, MARIAN (IN) 3

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – Junior right-hander Erik Pan