Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

St. Louis- The UW-Parkside Baseball team came back from two runs down in the seventh to defeat the University of Missouri-St. Louis 4-3 in 11 innings in game one of their GLVC-doubleheader on Monday. UMSL took game two, 3-2, despite being limited to three hits by Jack Olson and Jacob Chandler. The Rangers are now 5-1 in the GLVC and 6-9 overall. UMSL is 2-4 in conference play and 6-10 overall.

"I'll be honest, I'm not really happy with a split," said Head Coach Joel Weaver. "I don't feel like we played our best baseball. In order for us to succeed in this league you can't give away games and I felt we did that (in game two)."

Game one was scoreless until the fifth when UMSL put together a threat against Ryan Windt and the Ranger defense. The Tritons were about to load the bases thanks to a hit and two errors. Thanks to a fielder's choice and sac fly, Parkside found themselves down 2-0.

The Rangers finally got things going in the seventh when Dave Lojeski led off the inning with a double. After two batters were retired Robert Bellish delivered a big RBI-single to score Lojeski and cut the lead in half.

"Rob's been clutch all year," said Weaver. "He's been really consistent in coming up with solid at-bats. We really needed it at that point and I think it eased the tension and got us going."

John Brennan got another rally started in the eighth with a one out double. Mike Anderson moved him to third with a base-hit before Corey Stonelake tied the game with a sacrifice fly.

Meanwhile Windt was putting up zeros as he put together a masterful performance. The right-hander from Tinley Park ended up striking out 11 batters over 10-plus innings of work and allowing just one earned run.

"He was dominant today," said Weaver. "He dialed it in right from the get-go. He was just locked in. There's no other way to put it."

Windt helped keep the game knotted into the 11th when the Rangers took the lead thanks in large part to some shaky Triton defense. After the first two men were retired Kirk Haviland reached second on an error by the third baseman. Taylor Schwarz than broke the tie with an RBI-single and moved all the way to third on an error in left field. Bellish then came through again with a run-scoring single and gave the Rangers a two-run cushion.

"Schwartz's at-bat was huge," said Weaver. "He got down in the count but he really battled. Their guy was throwing well but he came through with a great at-bat."

Zarek came out for the 11th but hit a batter and allowed a single which forced Weaver to call on Schwarz to try to finish the game.

The first man he face laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the tying runs to second and third. The next man came up with a roller that just snuck through the side off Lojeski's glove. The first run scored but Alex Zarek came up with a great throw to the plate to cut down the tying run. Schwarz that by inducing a pop-up to pick up his second save.

"Taylor came right in and started throwing strikes," commented Weaver. "His role is to come in and clean everything up and he was able to do that. It was great to see cause Ryan really deserved that win."

In game two UMSL was able to register just three hits in the 3-2 win. The Rangers defense contrbuted to two unearned runs with errors and/or walks contributing to all three runs scored.

"We were able to score early and had all the momentum from the first game," said Weaver. "We just didn't focus and use teh opportunities we had. We let one get away."

John Perszyk had RBI-singles in the second and sixth to account for both Parkside runs. The Rangers left six runners on base in dropping the finale.

"We're making strides but we've got to get better," said Weaver. "We need to learn how to make-up for some other areas. When were pitching well we've got to be better defensively."

The Rangers will now enter divisional play with a four-game series against St. Joseph's scheduled for this weekend.