April 28, 2007

Game 1 Stats | Game 2 Stats

Contact: Josh Rattray

CHICAGO, Ill. - Junior Vasili Pahoulis led off the day with a solo home run to give CSU an early lead, but everything else went UIC's way as the Flames swept the Vikings in a doubleheader Saturday at Les Miller Field. UIC won the first game, 10-6, before taking an 11-1 decision in the nightcap.

Pahoulis posted a 2-for-5 day with a pair of RBI and sophomore Matt Madrid drove in a pair.

Micky Pingree got the Flames on the board with a bases loaded walk before a two-run double by Larry Gempp, Jr. made it 3-1.  Pingree would then score on a wild pitch and Gempp, Jr. scored on a CSU error to put UIC ahead, 5-1, after three innings.

The Vikings (10-30, 7-10 HL) answered with four runs in the top of the fourth. Sophomore Matt Madrid cracked a two-run single to score Geric and senior Marc Sikora and Pahoulis added an RBI to cut the deficit to 5-4. Cash drove in Madrid with a sac fly to tie the game 5-5.

Cash put the Vikings ahead, 6-5, with an RBI double in the sixth before the Flames took the lead for good in the bottom half of the inning. Chris Trotter belted a two-run home run to highlight a three-run inning that put the Flames up, 8-6.

UIC added a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh to provide the final margin.

"UIC is a good ballclub and there are reasons why they're leading our conference," head coach Kevin Kocks said. "If we could have eliminated some mental mistakes, we could have been a lot competitive."

Game two of the doubleheader came down to one play in the bottom of the second. With two outs, UIC's Jake Carr sent a dribbler past sophomore starter Josh Hungerman for an infield single. The next three batters rapped hits, including a two-run double by Chad Schroeder that gave UIC a 3-1 lead.

Senior Rich Ranells had an RBI single in the top of the first that gave CSU a 1-0 lead.

The Flames (23-15, 14-4 HL) scored four unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh to put game two away, keyed by a two-run double by David Cales.

Gempp, Jr. hit one home run in each game, including a three-run shot in game two that gave UIC an 11-1 lead.

Senior Brandon Hewitt (1-6) took the loss in game one after allowing eight runs over 5.1 innings. Hungerman (2-6) got the loss despite working 6.2 strong innings with seven strikeouts. Four of the seven UIC runs off Hungerman were unearned.

Cash had two hits of CSU's four hits in the nightcap. He also scored a run and stole a base.

The Vikings host Ohio Tuesday, May 1 at Pipe Yard Stadium. First pitch is set for 5:05 p.m.