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Libertyville outscores Evanston

Libertyville’s baseball team appeared that it might give Saturday’s game to visiting Evanston.

But Evan Skoug and Darwin Townsend powered the offense, while Mike Rogers provided great relief to help the Wildcats hang on to win 10-8 in a nonconference game.

Libertyville’s pitchers gave up 7 hits and walked 10.

“We kept (Evanston) in the game with all of the walks,” Libertyville coach Jim Schurr said. “But we got some timely hitting and some nice defense today.”

Libertyville starting pitcher Kevin McQuillen pitched the first 3 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits. He struck out three and walked two.

Rogers pitched the final 2 innings to save the game for Nick Carlucci.

Libertyville (10-4) scored twice on 4 singles in the bottom of the first and added two more runs in the fourth on Townsend’s 2-run double.

In the fourth, Evanston (11-4) took the lead, sending 11 batters to the plate and scoring 6 runs on only 2 hits and 7 walks.

With one man out, Carlucci came in to pitch. He walked in a pair of runs.

“I knew that McQuillen wouldn’t pitch the entire game,” Schurr said. “We need him to pitch later in the week.”

Brandon Vamarasi hit a 2-run single and Jim Hageman also singled in the fourth to give Evanston a 6-4 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, Skoug slammed a fastball over the right-center field fence for his first homer of the season, capping a 4-run inning and giving Libertyville a 10-6 lead.

“The coaches told me to wait on by back foot just a little bit longer,” Skoug said. “I just listened to what the coaches said.”

Evanston scored two more runs in the sixth, but Libertyville’s defense came through, as second baseman Nate Cote, shortstop Anthony Mack and first baseman Townsend teamed up on a 4-6-3 double play to end the rally.

In the seventh, Libertyville right fielder Victor Scalpone made a diving catch for the first out.

Nick Coutre had 2 hits for Libertyville.

Mack had 1 hit and drove in 2 runs.

Connor Hackett had 2 hits for Evanston.

“We had plenty of opportunities to score, but we just didn’t take advantage,” Evanston coach Frank Consiglio said. “If you don’t make enough pitches, Libertyville is going to hurt you with their bats.”

  Libertyville’s Kevin McQuillen delivers during Saturday’s game against Evanston. JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville first baseman Darwin Townsend digs the ball out of the dirt for a putout during Saturday’s game against Evanston. JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville’s P.J. Neumann puts the ball in play during Saturday’s game against Evanston. JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville’s Nick Coutre barely makes it back to first on a pickoff attempt as Evanston’s Max Siedlecki applies the tag. JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
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