Early Hole Costs Baseball In 7-5 Defeat To Central Michigan
April 23, 2008
Chicago, Ill.- Central Michigan's six-run inning to open Wednesday's game dug the UIC baseball team into an early hole, and the Flames' rally effort came up short in a 7-5 defeat at Les Miller Field. The Flames (22-17) are now in the midst of a four-game skid. Five of the first six hitters singled for the Chippewas (21-18) in the top of the first, giving the visitors a quick 3-0 lead. After an RBI groundout put starter Grant Kohlstaedt one out away from escaping further damage, Dale Cornstubble hit a two-run homer that stayed just inside the foul pole in left. UIC scratched the scoreboard with a pair in its half of the first on Brett Schaefer's RBI single and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Tony Altavilla. Kohlstaedt and relievers Eric Wyman and Adam Worthington hunkered down on the mound to quiet the Central Michigan offense. After allowing seven hits in the first two innings, UIC pitchers didn't give up a base knock until the ninth. An unearned tally was added to the Chippewas' lead during the fifth when catcher Kevin Coddington's throw to second base ended up in center on an attempt to stop a base thief with a runner already at third. The Flames would not go down without a fight, scoring three runs in the seventh. Brandon Harwell led off with a walk, and Steve McGuiggan doubled to left center to put two in scoring position that eventually came home on Jake Carr's ground-rule double.
Carr came home two batters later after second baseman Brendan Emmett misplayed Coddington's sharp grounder and subsequently threw the ball past the first baseman to commit two costly errors on the same play. But that's all the offense UIC could muster. The Flames stranded a total of 10 runners, including six left on base in scoring position. UIC begins a three-game non-conference series against Trinity International this Friday night at Les Miller Field, with first pitch for the opener slated for 7:05 p.m. |
