St. Francis going back to Joliet

For the second time in three years, St. Francis' baseball team is headed to the Class 3A state semifinals.

This time, the Spartans are heading to Joliet's Silver Cross Field to finish the job.

Behind Jason Sullivan's 2-hitter, the Spartans beat Metamora 3-0 in the Augustana College supersectional Monday night in Rock Island.

Outscoring its five playoff opponents 56-2, St. Francis (26-9) rolls into a semifinal showdown with Nazareth having won eight straight games and 20 of 22. The Spartans and Roadrunners play at 10 a.m. Friday with a berth in the state title game on the line.

St. Francis reached the 3A final in 2013 but fell short of the title with a 5-0 loss to Joliet Catholic. That's the motivation Sullivan and several other players will take into this weekend.

"Jason was better than good tonight, he was unbelievable," said St. Francis coach Nick Hall. "When the lights come on, there's no one better."

Sullivan, after throwing 36 pitches in 4 innings as the starter in Saturday's 14-0 five-inning win over Belvidere North in the sectional final, was masterful while notching his third playoff victory and second in three days. He struck out seven and walked none while facing two batters over the minimum in a 77-pitch complete game.

Only one Metamora (31-8) baserunner reached second base against Sullivan, who pitched in front of an errorless Spartans defense.

"I wanted to be the one on the mound leading my team," Sullivan said. "The adrenaline took over and my mindset was to go out and win the game."

After a scoreless first inning, St. Francis struck for the only 2 runs it needed in the top of the second. With the bases loaded, Sullivan walked to drive in Nick Dama with the first run and Will Purdom was hit by a pitch to score Foster Heise.

Not that he needed it, but Sullivan got an insurance run in the third inning when Jake Radel scored on an error to boost St. Francis' lead to 3-0.

Metamora put a runner on second base with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, but Sullivan retired eight straight to end the game.

"These guys work hard and they'll be ready this weekend," Hall said. "It's just a special group that buys in."

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