Game #1 Box Score
Game #2 Box Score
Jacksonville, IL – The Prairie Fire bounced back from a 10-2 season-opening loss to Central College by winning the finale of the doubleheader 6-4 to earn a split on March 3 in chilly conditions at Lenz Field.
Both teams kicked off the 2012 season in Jacksonville and they’ll play again on March 14 in Fort Myers, Florida as part of the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic.
Central gained the upper hand in the first game by scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning after the Prairie Fire couldn’t bring sophomore Erik Smoy (Hoffman Estates, IL, Hoffman Estates), who walked, around to score in the top half of the frame.
Sophomore Paul Mills (Moline, IL, Moline), who got the starting nod on the bump for Knox, hit leadoff batter Michael Jontz. Jontz stole second and then came around to score on a single by Sam Stetzel to give the Dutch a 1-0 lead. Mills got out the inning by retiring the next three hitters on pop ups and a line out.
Central starter Joel Pulliam was on his game all afternoon. He struck out the first two batters he faced in the second inning and got the third to ground out.
The Dutch had a big second inning, adding four runs on four hits to extend the lead to 5-0 going into the top of the third. Pulliam made quick work of the Prairie Fire in the third, striking out the side.
Mills followed with his first 1-2-3 inning in the fourth to keep the Central lead at 5-0. Pulliam added two more punch outs in the fourth as he set the Prairie Fire down in order.
The Dutch broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth inning by scoring three runs on three hits with the damage coming with one out. The big blow was a two-run single by fifth-place hitter Allen Mann that pushed Central’s lead to 8-0.
The Prairie Fire broke through with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the fifth to cut the deficit to 8-2. Junior Ryan Hoffman (Sugar Grove, IL, Marmion Academy) led off with a single and advanced to third base on a double by first-year outfielder Andrew Sparrow (Sullivan, IL, Sullivan). A single by junior Kyle Walenga (San Francisco, CA, Waldorf) scored Hoffman to get Knox on the board. Knox scored a second run in the inning on a groundout by junior Michael Schroeder (Glenview, IL, Glenbrook South).
Mills was replaced in the fifth inning by first-year pitcher Kenny Blanchard (Morton Grove, IL, Niles West), who was effective in the Central portion of the fifth inning. His only hiccup was a walk to Jontz, who was stranded on base when Stetzel grounded out.
Mills pitched four innings and surrendered eight hits, four earned runs and struck out one.
Pulliam struck out the first two batters he faced in the Knox sixth inning before issuing a walk to junior Caleb Weaver (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg). Pulliam prevented any potential problems by getting Hoffman to pop up to the shortstop.
Central added the final two runs of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Mike Furlong went deep for the Dutch to increase the lead to 9-2. The last run was scored by Mann who walked, stole second and scored on a single by Seth Carson.
The Prairie Fire, down eight runs, was unable to mount a comeback against reliever Derek Lindaman, who spelled Pulliam in the seventh inning. Sparrow led off with a single. Lindaman got Walenga out on strikes and Schroeder to fly out before issuing a walk to senior Dexter Brown (Saint Joseph, MN, St. John's Prep). With two men on, junior Doug Lillibridge (Byron, IL, Byron ) struck out to end the game.
Mills (0-1) took the loss in his season debut. Pulliam earned the win for Central after his six inning performance. He allowed two earned runs on two hits and struck out 11.
The Prairie Fire turned the tables in the second game and earned the split thanks to a big fourth inning and strong pitching.
Central plated a run in the second inning, two in the third and one more in the fourth off Knox starter, sophomore Peter Marquardt (Clarendon Hills, lL, Hinsdale Central).
Down 4-0, the Prairie Fire bats came alive in the bottom of the fourth against Central starter Ryan Goetzinger. White led off with a double and came around to score on a two-run homer by junior Michael O'Connell (Park Ridge, IL, Maine South) to cut the Dutch lead in half at 4-2.
After a strike out, Weaver walked and advanced to second on a single by Hoffman. Junior Matt Lee (Fullerton, CA, Servite) reached on an error that scored Weaver to slice the deficit to 4-3 with only one out. Walenga kept it going with a two-run double that scored both Hoffman and Lee and put the Prairie Fire up 5-4. Schroeder then singled home Walenga to increase the lead to 6-4, ending Goetzinger’s afternoon. Knox added a single and a walk off reliever Judson McKown, but couldn’t add any more runs. When the dust settled, the Fire scored six runs on six hits and an error, and left three men on base in the fourth.
Junior Ryan Stoens (Bartonville, IL, Limestone) came on to pitch for Marquardt in the fifth inning. He struck out the first two batters he faced before issuing a walk, then stranding the runner on a ground out.
Central’s McKown didn’t allow Knox to score in the bottom of the fifth, keeping it a two-run lead for the Prairie Fire going into the sixth frame.
Junior Gabe Ayers (Hanna City, IL, Farmington Community ) relieved Stoens in the sixth. After the first two men he faced singled, Ayers got out of a jam with a strikeout and a double play ball to quash a potential rally by the Dutch and swing the momentum Knox's way.
The Prairie Fire went down in order in the seventh. Coach Jami Isaacson called on sophomore hurler Dustin Armstrong (Cincinnati, OH, Country Day) to shut Central down and help Knox get its first win of the season.
Armstrong struck out the first batter he faced. With one out, the next hitter singled and advanced to second base on a passed ball. A walk placed runners on first and second with one out and the winning run at the plate. Armstrong got the job done by forcing a pop up for the second out and ended the game with a strike out to earn his first save.
Central outhit the Prairie Fire 9-7. Leading the way for Knox was White with two hits and O’Connell with a pair of RBIs. Lee, Walenga, and Schroeder each drove in runs.
Marquardt (1-0) earned the win on the mound, tossing four innings and allowing four hits and three earned runs with one strikeout. The bullpen was outstanding, allowing just three hits in three shutout innings while striking out five.
Knox resumes play on March 13 in Fort Myers, Florida against Lakeland College. The game is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m.
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