FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Media Relations

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. (Apr. 1, 2014)-- The University of Wisconsin-Parkside baseball team put on an offensive clinic in the opener against Great Lakes Valley Conference nemesis Lewis University on Tuesday afternoon, pounding the hosts 19-9 before having the bats go silent in game two and suffering a 2-1 setback to split the doubleheader at Brennan Field.

The Rangers (7-14, 5-9 GLVC) came out of the gate swinging, utilizing eight hits and one error to pile on eight runs in the top of the first inning. UW-Parkside opened up the frame with six hits and a walk, claiming five runs before the game's first out, including two runs off a Derek Tuttle double to center field.

Lewis (14-11, 8-5 GLVC) got on the board in the bottom of the first, pushing across a single run before the Rangers poured on three more in the third inning. Juan Bowers led off the inning by getting hit by pitch, later scoring on a passed ball while Nick Janssen and Zach Cunningham tallied RBI singles, staking UW-Parkside the 11-1 lead.

The Flyers added two runs in the bottom of the third before the Rangers exploded for six more runs in the fourth, seizing the 17-3 edge. Janssen and Eric DuCharme each belted in a pair of runs in the Rangers' fourth inning surge.

Lewis responded with four runs in the fifth while each squad pushed across two runs in the sixth as Parkside emerged with the 19-9 mercy rule victory after seven innings of action.

The Rangers collected 21 hits in the program's highest offensive output since outdueling the University of Missouri-Saint Louis 20-17 on April 2, 2010 at Oberbruner Field.

Janssen and Cunningham led the offensive fireworks, each recording four hits and scoring three runs. Cunningham finished with four RBIs while Janssen and DuCharme each had three. A total of eight players tallied a hit for Parkside with six finishing with more than one base knock.

On the mound, John Perez glided to victory, tossing all seven innings and striking out one. The Flyers' Eeann Cox was saddled with the loss, exiting the game after recording just one out and yielding eight runs. The game was the Rangers' first win over Lewis since edging the Flyers 4-3 on Mar. 28, 2010.

Game two was a complete 180, with the Rangers mustering just three hits in a 2-1 seven inning setback.

Lewis stuck first in the nightcap, plating a run in the second on a passed ball. UW-Parkside responded and netted the contest at 1-1 in the fifth with a Ryan Ruediger double scoring DuCharme before Lewis tallied the decisive score in the bottom of the fifth.

The Flyers' Joel Rotkvich led off the fifth with a single before stealing second. Rotkvich advanced to third on a sacrifce bunt before scoring on an outfield single to conclude the scoring.

Despite striking out four and yielding just one earned run, Joseph Plaud was saddled with the defeat, tossing a complete game. His counterpart, Kyle Klosak tallied the complete game win, fanning seven batters while allowing just one run.

The Rangers return to action on Saturday, traveling to Rensselaer, Ind., for a four-game set against host Saint Joseph's College.