Tucson, Ariz. – Illinois Tech baseball team swept Augsburg College on Wednesday outscoring the Minnesota foes 25-14 in the two games with the game one final ending 11-6 and the night cap 14-8. The Hawks are now back in the black with a 4-2 overall record.
Game 1
The heart of the lineup was in full force today as Michael Malfeo (SR, Orland Park, Ill.) had 3 hits including a triple, 3 runs scored and 3 runs batted in. Adding to that Brian Colon (JR, Carolina, PR) had 3 hits with two being doubles, 2 runs scored and 3 runs batted in. Austin Boos (JR, Indianapolis, Ind.), Andrew Lamkin (FR, Washington, Mich.), William Cronin (SR, Orland Park, Ill.), Sam Pung (JR, Ludington, MIch.) and Ryan Fitzpatrick (SR, Chicago, Ill.) all added a run scored as well as a run batted in. "We had a very good day at the plate today. If we continue to have 12 hits and 11 runs then we should have very positive results the whole season," added Coach Scott Marks.
On the mound Elliot Chibe (SO, Palos Park, Ill.) got his second start of the trip going 3.0 scheduled innings with 8 hits, 2 runs (2 earned), no walks and 3 strikeouts. Matthew Bishop (JR, New Lenox, Ill.) was in for another relief appearance with 2.0 innings on 3 hits, 4 runs (all earned), and 5 walks but the offense slugged Bishop to his first ever collegiate win as a pitcher today. Michael Malfeo (SR, Orland Park, Ill.) came in for the final 2.0 innings allowing no hits, no runs, on one walk and one strikeout.
Game 2
In the second game of the doubleheader, William Sierzega (SO, Chicago, Ill.) took the mound for his first collegiate starting pitcher nod. Sierzega, known as "Wild Bill" to his teammates, did not have his best performance but did compete and that is just what the Scarlet Hawks needed. Wild Bill went 4.0 innings allowing 8 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), and 6 walks. But at the end of the day he was awarded the win and was given the celebratory lineup card that is given to the winning pitcher of each victory. Senior centerfielder Ryan Fitzpatrick came into the game on the mound featuring his knuckleball and went the final 3.0 innings giving up 5 hits, 2 earned runs, on one walk.
At the plate, 10 of the 11 batters that stepped into the box had at least one hit in the game. Fitzpatrick who finished the game on the mound was even more impressive at the plate where he went 2-5 with a double and a home run, driving in 5 runners, and scoring 2 runs himself. Michael Malfeo had another multi-hit game with 2 hits, one being a home run, 3 runs batted in and 2 runs scored. Brian Colon kept it going also with 3 hits (one being a double) and 2 runs scored. Austin Boos and William Cronin both had 2 hits, one RBI and runs scored. Alex Babusci (SR, Park Ridge, Ill.), Sam Pung, James Tarala (SO, Crown Point, Ind.), Darwin Argumedo (Cartegena, Columbia) and Kyle Bumpass (SO, Crete, Ill.) all had one hit with a pile of runs scored and runs driven in.
"This was the most fun I have had at the ball park in an Illinois Tech uniform," said Head Coach Scott Marks. "We try to emphasize how important it is to still have fun playing baseball even though it is not little league anymore. But when we talk about fun it always comes down to winning, when you win it makes it very difficult not to have fun. So when you have days like today it is so much FUN!"