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2014 Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic
March 18-23 Fort Myers, FL

GAME #8: Knox vs. Plattsburgh State University (3/23/14)  Box Score 8

The Prairie Fire offense was clicking again in a 13-12 win over Plattsburgh State on Sunday afternoon in Fort Myers.

Knox scored one run in a loss to Plattsburgh on Saturday and was shut out by Augustana College in the first game of the day on Sunday.  The Prairie Fire's bats came alive against the Cardinals in their final spring break game in Florida.

The teams banged out 29 hits between them, including three for extra bases.

Knox held off Plattsburgh, which was unable to overcome an eight-run sixth inning deficit.

The Cardinals scored on a two-run single in the seventh inning, and then tacked on five more runs in the eighth on a hit by pitch, a three-run single, and an RBI single.

Senior Dustin Armstrong (Columbus, OH, Worthington) preserved the Prairie Fire's one-run lead by tossing a scoreless ninth inning.  Armstrong worked 1 2/3 innings and allowed one run on three hits while striking out two to pick up his second save of the season.

Senior Michael O'Connell (Park Ridge, IL, Maine South) had a hot bat for Knox. He went 3-for-4, drove in one, and scored three runs. He singled in the third, sixth, and eighth innings.

Senior hurler Peter Marquardt (Clarendon Hills, lL, Hinsdale Central) earned the win in relief for the Prairie Fire. Marquardt (1-1) pitched three shutout innings and struck out three.

Knox (5-4) never trailed thanks to a third inning rally that saw one run cross the plate on an RBI double by first-year Ryan Weitendorf (New Lenox, IL, Lincoln-Way East).

The Prairie Fire scored six runs in the fifth inning for a 7-0 lead, and then followed with six more in the sixth to increase the advantage to 13-5.

Plattsburgh State (7-10) plated five in the top half of the sixth to get within two at 7-5.

Knox outhit the Cardinals 15-14 in the contest.

Weitendorf finished with three hits and scored two runs for the Prairie Fire.  Senior Jackson White (Grayslake, IL, Grayslake Central) also had a good day at the plate with two hits, two RBI, and two runs scored.  Sophomore Blake Newberg (Moline, IL, Rock Island Alleman) contributed two hits and two runs, and first-year Paul Sanders (Rock Island, IL, Rock Island) drove in two.

Next up for Knox is a doubleheader against Robert Morris University – Springfield at Blodgett Field on March 29.  The first game is slated for a 1:00 p.m. start.


GAME #7: Knox vs. #22 Augustana College (3/23/14)  Box Score 7

Augustana College scored seven runs in the third inning and went on to defeat the Prairie Fire 13-0 Sunday morning in Fort Myers.

The 22nd ranked Vikings (8-4) opened the scoring with three runs in the bottom of the first off of senior Knox starter Paul Mills (Moline, IL, Moline).  Augustana College blew the game open with a seven-run fourth to extend the lead to 10-0.

Augie starting pitcher and winner Chris Sauer held the Prairie Fire (4-4) to a pair of singles over six innings.

Mills (1-1) was saddled with the loss after giving up nine earned runs and 11 hits in three innings of work.  He struck out two and walked two. 

First-year Alex Bell (Elgin, IL, Burlington Central) and junior Andrew Sparrow (Sullivan, IL, Sullivan) combined to toss three innings of relief, allowing two earned runs and five hits with two strikeouts and one walk.

Knox plays its last game in Florida on Sunday against Plattsburgh State at Terry Park #1.  The Prairie Fire get a rematch with the Cardinals, who won the first meeting between the teams 4-1 on Saturday.


GAME #6: Knox vs. Plattsburg State University (3/22/14)  Box Score 6

The Prairie Fire couldn't rally for a dramatic win on back-to-back days.

Plattsburgh held the Knox offense in check and posted a 4-1 victory on Saturday in Fort Myers.  The Prairie Fire hoped to repeat Friday's big comeback – a five-run ninth inning and an 8-7 walk-off win against Southern Vermont.

The Cardinals (7-9) plated three runs in the first inning off of Knox starter, first-year Alec Jordan (Spring Grove, IL, Richmond-Burton), for an early 3-0 lead.  Plattsburgh added a run in the bottom of the third to push to a 4-0 advantage.

Knox (4-3) trimmed the deficit to 4-1 with a run on the top of the fourth.

Senior Michael O'Connell (Park Ridge, IL, Maine South) reached base on an error and moved to third base on a double by first-year Ryan Weitendorf (New Lenox, IL, Lincoln-Way East).  O'Connell scored on a ground ball to shortstop off the bat of senior Jackson White (Grayslake, IL, Grayslake Central).

The Prairie Fire bullpen held Plattsburgh State scoreless over the last four innings.  Sophomore Marty Salazar (Normal, IL, Normal Community) and senior Bryan Leslie (Richmond, IL, Richmond-Burton) combined to allow only three hits.

Jordan (1-1) was tagged with the loss in his first start of the season.  He settled in after a rocky first and tossed four innings, surrendering two earned runs, four hits, and one walk while striking out three.

Weitendorf had a pair of hits to lead the Prairie Fire.

Knox takes on Augustana College before a rematch with Plattsburgh State on Sunday at Terry Park #1.  The first game is scheduled to start at 9:00 a.m. (ET), followed by the Prairie Fire's spring break finale at 12:00 p.m. (ET).


GAME #5: Knox vs. Southern Vermont College (3/21/14)  Box Score 5

A late rally lifted the Prairie Fire past Southern Vermont 8-7 on Friday morning in Fort Myers.

Trailing 7-3 going into the bottom of the ninth, Knox scored five runs – capped by a pinch hit, walk-off three-run double with two outs by sophomore Blake Newberg (Moline, IL, Rock Island Alleman) to win it.

Southern Vermont scored one run in seven different innings, including one in the top of the first off of Prairie Fire sophomore Jeremy Gogoel (Elgin, IL, Hampshire) for an early 1-0 lead.  The Mountaineers built the lead to 4-0 before Knox got on the board in the bottom of the fourth.

First-year Paul Sanders (Rock Island, IL, Rock Island) singled and advanced to second on a balk.  He moved to third on a ground ball out by senior Erik Smoy (Hoffman Estates, IL, Hoffman Estates) and then scored on an error to pull within 4-1.

A run-scoring single by sophomore Geoff Hahn (Cameron, IL, United) that scored junior Derek Cochran (Auburn, IL, Auburn) cut the Southern Vermont lead in half, 4-2.

The Mountaineers (5-8) answered with a run in the fifth to go up 5-2.  Knox trimmed the deficit to two again, 5-3, on a wild pitch that scored senior Bryan Leslie (Richmond, IL, Richmond-Burton).

Southern Vermont regained a four-run lead at 7-3 with single tallies in the seventh and the ninth innings, setting up the dramatic finish for the Prairie Fire.

Smoy singled to drive in junior Michael Bohnhoff (Omaha, NE, Mt. Michael Benedictine) for Knox's first run in the bottom of the ninth.  First-year Ryan Weitendorf (New Lenox, IL, Lincoln-Way East) singled with the bases loaded to send sophomore Cody Boal (The Sea Ranch, CA, Dunn School) home to close the gap to 7-5.  Newberg finished it off with a double to deep right field that scored Sanders, senior Phil Tallman (Park Ridge, IL, Maine South), and Weitendorf.

Senior Dustin Armstrong (Columbus, OH, Worthington) earned the win in relief.  Armstrong (1-0) came on in the ninth inning and allowed an unearned run, two hits, and struck out one.

Knox meets Plattsburgh State University on Saturday.  The game is scheduled to start at 12:00 p.m. (ET) at Player Development Complex #1 in Fort Myers.


GAME #4: Knox vs. Otterbein University (3/20/14)

Otterbein scored two runs in the fifth inning and held on to defeat the Prairie Fire 4-3 on Thursday in Fort Myers.

Knox was up 2-1 when the Cardinals came back with two run-scoring singles to grab a 3-2 lead.  Otterbein added another run in the bottom of the sixth on a throwing error by the Prairie Fire to extend the advantage to 4-2.

Knox (3-2) pulled within a run at 4-3 on an RBI ground out to first base by senior Erik Smoy (Hoffman Estates, IL, Hoffman Estates) that scored first-year Paul Sanders (Rock Island, IL, Rock Island).

Smoy gave the Prairie Fire a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning with a single that brought senior Phil Tallman (Park Ridge, IL, Maine South) home.

Otterbein (9-4) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a two-out, RBI double.

The Prairie Fire came back with a run to tie the game at 1-1 after first-year Ryan Weitendorf (New Lenox, IL, Lincoln-Way East) led off the second inning with a single and came around to score on an errant throw.

Knox outhit the Cardinals 9-7 but committed an uncharacteristic four errors in the contest.   Sophomore Blake Newberg (Moline, IL, Rock Island Alleman) had three hits and Tallman contributed two for the Prarie Fire.

Junior Ryder Borre (Wilmette, IL, New Trier) pitched eight strong innings for Knox.  Borre (0-1) allowed three earned runs and one walk to go with five strikeouts.

The Prairie Fire and Southern Vermont College play an early game on Friday.  The first pitch from Player Development Complex (field) #2 is scheduled at 8:00 a.m. (ET).


GAME #3: Knox vs. Lasell College (3/19/14)

The Prairie Fire responded in a big way against Lasell College in the second game of a doubleheader between the teams.

Knox scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and defeated Lasell 9-7 to earn a split against the Lasers.

The Prairie Fire (3-1), after not scoring a run in the first game, got on the board in the bottom of the first inning and never trailed.  First-year Ryan Weitendorf (New Lenox, IL, Lincoln-Way East) hit a sac fly that scored senior Michael O'Connell (Park Ridge, IL, Maine South) – who got on base with a one-out single.

Knox built a 3-0 lead with two more runs in the bottom of the third.  Weitendorf drew a one-out walk and first-year Kam Wells (Champaign, IL, Champaign Central) reached base on an error.  Both came around to score when the Lasell shortstop misplayed a ground ball off the bat of first-year Alex Bell (Elgin, IL, Burlington Central).

Lasell (4-6) scored its first run off of Prairie Fire starter, senior Nathan Grady (Antelope, CA, Oakmont), in the top of the fourth with a one-out single.  The Prairie Fire turned a double play to end the inning and maintain a 3-1 lead.

The Prairie Fire extended the lead to 8-1 thanks to a five run outburst in the bottom of the fourth.  Knox scored on an RBI double by senior Erik Smoy (Hoffman Estates, IL, Hoffman Estates), a two-run double by sophomore Blake Newberg (Moline, IL, Rock Island Alleman), and a two-run single by junior Austen Lake (Albers, IL, Breese Central).

The Lasers answered with three runs in the top of the fifth, all charged to Grady, to cut the Knox lead in half, 8-4.  Grady (1-0) earned the win after pitching 4 1/3 innings in his first starting assignment of the year.  He gave up four runs, six hits, and struck out one without a walk.

Senior hurler Bryan Leslie (Richmond, IL, Richmond-Burton) came on in relief of Grady and threw 2/3 of an inning, including one strikeout.

The Prairie Fire offense added another run in the home half of the fifth.  Smoy made Lasell pay for back-to-back one-out walks to senior Phil Tallman (Park Ridge, IL, Maine South) and O'Connell by smacking his second double of the game to score Tallman for a 9-4 lead.

Lasell refused to go away and scored three more runs in the top of the sixth to pull within 9-7 of Knox.  First-year Alec Jordan (Spring Grove, IL, Richmond-Burton) was summoned from the Prairie Fire bullpen and recorded the final two outs of the inning to stop the bleeding.

Jordan secured the win for Knox with a scoreless seventh frame to pick up his first save of the season.  He allowed two hits and struck out two in 1 2/3 innings of work.

Lasell outhit Knox 11-5 in the game but committed six errors and walked eight.  The Prairie Fire walked only one hitter and did not commit an error in the game.

Smoy, Newberg, and Lake drove in two runs each while Tallman and Weitendorf scored twice for Knox.

The Prairie Fire and Otterbein University play on Thursday at 10:00 (ET) at Terry Park #1 in Fort Myers.  The squads split their two meetings during last year's Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic.


GAME #2: Knox vs. Lasell College (3/19/14)

Lasell held the Prairie Fire to five hits in a 1-0 win in the first game of a doubleheader between the teams on Wednesday.

The Lasers (4-5) scored their only run on an RBI double off of Knox starter Peter Marquardt (Clarendon Hills, lL, Hinsdale Central) in the bottom of the first inning.  Marquardt (0-1) suffered the loss despite blanking Lasell the rest of the way.  He threw six strong innings with three strikeouts and two walks.

The Prairie Fire (2-1), after combining for 19 runs in their first two games, were unable to score against Lasell starter Eric Howard and one reliever.  Howard surrendered only three hits in 5 1/3 innings of work with three strike outs and two walks.  Knox scratched out two more hits and struck out twice over the last 1 2/3 innings.

First-year Drew Osborn (Moline, IL, Moline) and sophomore Cody Boal (The Sea Ranch, CA, Dunn School) had two hits apiece to lead the Knox offense.

The Prairie Fire will try to earn a split against Lasell in the second game of the twinbill at Player Development Complex #1.


GAME #1: Knox vs. Fredonia State (3/18/14)

Three Prairie Fire relievers combined for three shutout innings as Knox held on for a 5-4 win over Fredonia State.

The Prairie Fire (2-0) snapped a 3-3 tie with two runs in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead for good.  Knox scored on an RBI single by senior Erik Smoy (Hoffman Estates, IL, Hoffman Estates) and a sacrifice fly by first-year Ryan Weitendorf (New Lenox, IL, Lincoln-Way East).

Senior Paul Mills (Moline, IL, Moline) tossed six innings and recorded the win for Knox. Mills (1-0) allowed four runs, eight hits, and struck out five with no walks.

The top of the first saw Fredonia State take an early 1-0 lead.

The Prairie Fire quickly overtook the Blue Devils by plating three runs in the bottom of the second inning for a 3-1 advantage.

Junior Michael Bohnhoff (Omaha, NE, Mt. Michael Benedictine) drove in the first run of the game for Knox with a single that scored sophomore Blake Newberg (Moline, IL, Rock Island Alleman).  First-year Paul Sanders (Rock Island, IL, Rock Island) gave the Prairie Fire a 2-1 lead with a sacrifice fly to center that sent Bohnhoff home.  Senior Michael O'Connell (Park Ridge, IL, Maine South) singled in fellow senior Phil Tallman (Park Ridge, IL, Maine South) for the third run.

Fredonia State (4-5) tied the game at 3-3 with two runs in the top of the fourth before Knox answered with its own two-run frame.  The Blue Devils added one more tally in the top of the sixth before the Prairie Fire bullpen closed the door.

Junior Ryder Borre (Wilmette, IL, New Trier) relieved Mills and pitched a scoreless seventh.  First-year Alec Jordan (Spring Grove, IL, Richmond-Burton) followed with a pair of strikeouts in the eighth before senior Dustin Armstrong (Columbus, OH, Worthington) earned his first save of the season with 1 1/3 innings of work.

Armstrong got out of a jam in the top of the ninth to preserve the win.  Fredonia State had a runner on second after a lead-off single and a passed ball. The Blue Devils sacrificed the runner to third, but Armstrong retired the next hitter on a line-out to shortstop and then ended the game by coaxing a fly ball to right field for the third out.

The Blue Devils outhit the Prairie Fire 11-8, but committed four errors.

First-year Drew Osborn (Moline, IL, Moline) led Knox with a pair of hits.  Tallman scored two runs after he was hit by a pitch and drew a walk.

The Prairie Fire and Lasell College play a doubleheader on Wednesday.  The first game is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. (ET).