April 30, 2004

Box Score

Contact: Kevin Zeise

CHICAGO - UIC (26-12, 7-2 Horizon) scored five runs in the second inning and kept the Cleveland State (10-21, 7-5 Horizon) offense at bay as the Flames took the opening game of the series, 8-5, on Friday evening at Les Miller Field in Chicago. Dave Boyza allowed seven runs in 3.2 innings in falling to 1-6 on the year. The Vikings rallied for four runs in the final two innings, but also stranded three runners in the two innings.

"We got off to a difficult start defensively, and starter Dave Boyza had a hard time settling in," head coach Jay Murphy said. "That gave UIC an opportunity to get an early start."

Trailing 1-0 in the top of the second, Cleveland State got on the board when Gian Testa hit a two-out double to left and scored on Ben Smith's bloop single to left. The run ended UIC starter David Haehnel's 22-inning shutout streak in Horizon League games.

Boyza ran into trouble in the bottom half of the inning as he allowed the first three batters to reach on an error and two walks. A sacrifice fly by second baseman Mike Bruszer scored one run, while a single to right by Ted Rosinski scored another pair. After Mike Hughes grounded into a fielder's choice, Justin Johnson lined a double to right, scoring another pair.

The senior allowed another pair in the fourth inning, giving up a leadoff walk to catcher Nelson Gord, who moved to second on a balk and to third on a single to left by Rosinski. Rosinski scored after moving to second on a fielder's choice and third on a passed ball by catcher Doug Besozzi, scoring on Johnson's sacrifice fly to right, chasing Boyza from the game.

Jimmy Gulden relieved Boyza and worked the next 3.1 innings, allowing just three hits without giving up a run. Gulden kept the Vikings close until they began to rally in the eighth inning.

Cory Rojeck singled to left to lead off the eighth and moved to second on a wild pitch. Brian Lombardi then walked, with both runners moving up a base when Marc Sikora hit a one-out single to left center. Dominic Erney's single scored a pair, with Sikora scoring on Testa's single to right.

The Vikings tagged on another run in the top of the nine, as Mike Ochwat was hit by a pitch to open the frame. He moved to second on an infield single by Rojeck, and advanced to third when the throw from the second-baseman was wide of the bag at first. Ochwat then scored when a pickoff throw to first went wide, allowing Rojeck to move to second, though he was left stranded there when Sikora lined out to first to end the game.

"I really credit our guys with battling back and getting ourselves in position to win the game," Murphy said. "Hopefully, we can take that approach into tomorrow's doubleheader."

Cleveland State played without starting second-baseman Steve Chinn, who suffered an injury in Wednesday's 12-5 win over No. 8 Notre Dame.

The Vikings and Flames will try to play two games on Saturday, weather permitting. Should both games go as scheduled, the first game would begin at 2 p.m. EDT, with the second following approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.