L/P defense struggles to keep up

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, May 14, 2003

After winning eight of its first nine games, the Lyle/Pacelli baseball team has suddenly lost two of three after a doubleheader split Tuesday with visiting Mabel-Canton.

L/P used a big fourth inning to win the opener 8-4, but their bats couldn't compensate for more shaky fielding as the Cougars carried the nightcap 5-0.

"Our defensive play really hurt us today," said L/P head coach Steve Baumann. "We couldn't come up with the plays when we needed them, same as last night (a 3-2 loss to Houston)."

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In the first game, L/P erupted for five runs in the fourth to seize a 7-3 lead. M-C starter Eric Stortz walked three of the first five batters he faced to force in a run. With the bases still full, Jake Burzinski singled to drive in two more. Nels Nelson capped the inning with a two-run double to the fence in left.

Peter Korfhage pitched all six innings to get the win for L/P, allowing just four hits.

The hits were harder to come by for L/P in the second game. M-C's Nate Gossman shackled them to the tune of two hits and no runs while striking out seven.

"We couldn't hit to save our lives," was Baumann's assessment.

T.J. Parlin took the loss for L/P, recording five strikeouts but giving up seven hits and all six runs, only two of which were earned.

Three L/P errors in the bottom of the third allowed the Cougars to score four times, giving them a 5-0 lead they would not relinquish. Nathan Pastwa had a two-run single after two miscues begin the inning.

"We haven't helped T.J. at all defensively," Baumann said.

L/P now falls a game behind Glenville-Emmons at 5-3 in the Southeast Conference, 9-3 overall. They now need to came away with a win from their trip to G-E Thursday to earn a share of the conference title.

Linescores:

Game 1

Mabel-Canton030001--440

Lyle/Pacelli10151x--884

WP--Korfhage. LP--Stortz.

Game 2

Lyle/Pacelli000000--025

Mabel-Canton01401x--670

WP--Gossman LP--Parlin.