Smith, Conant shut down Dundee-Crown

Five walks. Eleven baserunners. Six hits and 101 pitches.

Those stats usually don't add up to a shutout. But Conant left-hander Pat Smith was able to overcome adversity and tossed a 6-hit shutout as the visiting Cougars were able to post a 6-0 victory over Dundee-Crown in nonconference baseball action in Carpentersville Monday afternoon.

"My defense behind me was great," said Smith, who went 6⅓ innings. "When we needed a defensive play the guys came through. I thought I mixed my fastball and curveball well. I was really focused and my mind was clear. I walked too many but I can work on that."

Conant coach Derek Fivelson was impressed with Smith's effort.

"We had him on a 75-pitch count the last game and 100 today," said Fivelson. "I was trying to get him a complete game but he pitched great. He has a chance to be a dominant."

Conant righty Ryan Roberts came on in relief to get the final two outs including a strikeout.

Dundee-Crown junior left-hander Dan Denz retired the first 9 hitters he faced. In the fourth, Conant's Matt Fauth broke up the perfect game with a single and went to third on a double by Jimmy McLaughlin. Fauth scored the first run of the game for the Cougars (3-3) by stealing home on a botched suicide squeeze bunt attempt.

Because Denz will pitch later in the week. D-C coach Jon Anderson took him out of the game after four innings. The hard-throwing lefty, who is committed to Division I Memphis, had 4 strikeouts without allowing a walk.

"Dan pitched great," said Anderson. "With games everyday this week, Dan got his work in and will be ready to pitch later in the week."

Conant roughed up D-C reliever Riley Alvarado, who gave up 5 runs on 6 hits in 3 innings of work. He struck out 3 with 3 walks.

The Cougars tallied 2 unearned runs in the fifth and 3 in the seventh. Both McLaughlin and Anthony Foote had RBI groundouts while Jack Rieger provided a run-scoring single.

D-C (7-2), which stranded 7 runners on base, had two players picked off first and two thrown out at the plate, was led by Jared Ludwig who was 3-for-3 with a double.

"You have to score to win," said Anderson. "We have played well this season, but we just didn't have it today."