Box score
EVANSVILLE, IND.- Extra-inning wins have become a theme for UIndy at the 2012 GLVC Baseball Tournament, as the Greyhounds (39-14) earned their second consecutive such victory with a 1-0 win versus Lewis in 11 innings Friday.
UIndy used three one-out singles to push across the game's only tally.
Scott Lawley and
Mike Page both found the outfield grass, before
Matt Maringer smoked a 2-2 pitch to right to score Lawley with the game winner.
2012 Baseball GLVC v. Lewis Gallery
Though Maringer was the hero of the moment,
JaVaun West was the star of the game. The UIndy starting pitcher lived up to his first-team all-conference status, doing his best
Jack Morris imitation with 10 shutout innings in the elimination game. West needed 114 pitches to get 30 outs, while allowing just five hits and one walk.
He is the first Greyhound to pitch 10 innings since
Chris Saroff – who coincidentally got the win Friday – tossed 10 innings of scoreless ball in April of last year.
It wasn't good enough for the win, however, as UIndy failed to deliver a timely hit unitl West was out of the game. The Hounds got the leadoff runner on in six of the first seven innings, but each time Lewis managed to keep them off the board.
The Flyers (33-20) had perhaps their best scoring opportunity in the seventh. Leftfielder Andrew Brauer began the frame with a single, advanced to second on a sac bunt and continued to third on a wild pitch. He would get no farther, however, as West got a strikeout and a pop up to keep the game scoreless.
After getting out of a similar situation in the 10th, West was finally pulled in favor of Saroff, who threw 41 pitches in a winning effort yesterday. With a little help from a great defensive play from third baseman
Tyler O'Daniel, the Greyhound closer retired the Flyers in order to set up the drama in the bottom of the 11th.
With just four teams remaining, the Hounds move on to the GLVC semifinals to face fourth-seeded Rockhurst Saturday. The Hawks have yet to lose a game at the GLVC tourney, so the Hounds will need to beat them twice Saturday to advance to the finals. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. Eastern, with the potential second game starting at 7 p.m. ET.
