Sunday, April 03, 2011

Every batter had at least one hit as Valparaiso pounded out 17 hits on Sunday morning and Tyler Deetjen (Saint Charles, Ill./East H.S.) surrendered just one run in eight innings of work as the Crusaders defeated UIC 13-1 at Emory G. Bauer Field, allowing the Brown and Gold to earn a series victory over the Flames.

Deetjen allowed just three hits and walked two while striking out eight on his way to the victory (2-5).  He took a no-hitter into the fifth inning.  He did not allow a runner past second base until a two-out RBI double by Matt Serna in the top of the eighth, accounting for the Flames’ lone run.

“Deetjen was really good with the wind blowing out hard to left,” head coach Tracy Woodson said.  “He really kept the ball down.”

Corey Thibault (Tustin, Calif./Foothill H.S.) and Andrew Bain (Indianapolis, Ind./Park Tudor H.S.) had three hits each while Will Hagel (Arlington Heights, Ill./Prospect H.S.) and Kyle Gaedele (Arlington Heights, Ill./Rolling Meadows H.S.) each drove home three runs.

Valpo took advantage of a UIC error in the second for the first run as Robbie Robinson (Brea, Calif./Olinda H.S.) reached on the miscue, went to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Thibault.

Gaedele increased the advantage to four in the fourth with a towering three-run home run to leftfield.  The Crusaders added three more runs in the sixth, one on a RBI single by Bain and two more on a hit by Hagel.

The Crusaders added on six more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, sending 12 batters to the plate.  Chris Manning (Lake Forest, Calif./El Toro H.S.) doubled home two runs while Hagle, Thibault, and Bain all added RBI hits.  Michael Morman (Rockford, Ill./Boylan Catholic H.S.) also plated a run on a fielder’s choice.

“We put the ball in play all weekend,” Woodson added.  “Today we didn’t stop hitting and continued to add on after getting that early 4-0 lead.”

Joey Begel suffered the loss (1-2) for UIC (12-12, 4-2 Horizon), working 5.2 innings while allowing six runs on nine hits.

Valparaiso (6-20, 3-3) will continue its five-game homestand on Tuesday afternoon, hosting Indiana State.  First pitch is set for 3 p.m.