Driscoll closes strong in doubleheader

After the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader against Driscoll, St. Edward pitcher Riley Coleman may want to change his name to Riley Koleman.

Coleman (5-0) fanned 10 Driscoll batters without allowing a walk as St. Edward too a 2-1 victory in the opening game of the Suburban Catholic Conference

But Driscoll loves doubleheaders - at least the second game of doubleheaders.

After falling 2-1 in the opening game to St. Edward at Wing Park in Elgin, the Highlanders rebounded for a 9-8 victory in Game 2. In their fourth doubleheader of the season, the Highlanders (9-7, 3-3) are now 1-3 in the opening game and a perfect 4-0 in Game 2.

The Green Wave (8-8, 3-2) nearly put a blemish on that mark.

Steve Schwabe's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh inning of Game 2 scored Connor McDannell to secure a 9-8 Driscoll win in the back-and-forth contest.

After trailing 6-0 after 2 innings, St. Edward put up 6 runs off of 5 hits in the sixth to take a 7-6 advantage. The Green Wave batted around the order with junior T.J. Madzy nailing a 2-run home run over the 360-foot center field wall.

"In the sixth inning in both games, we had some defensive lapses," Driscoll coach Sean Bieterman said of Game 2. "That allowed them take the first game and comeback in the second game."

All 4 of Driscoll's runs in the second inning came from a massive swing by Highlanders leadoff batter Gabe Tumlos. The right fielder nailed his first home run of the season in grand fashion by smacking a grand slam to center. Tumlos scored again in a 2-run sixth, which allowed Driscoll to retake the lead 8-7.

"We're a second-game team," Tumlos said. "We start off shaky in the first game. The second game is where we turn it on."

Jordan Torres (1-2) picked up the loss for the Green Wave but did not give up an earned run in the game. An infield error allowed Driscoll loaded bases when Schwabe nailed his sacrifice fly. Joe Conti (1-2) notched his first win of the season for Driscoll.

Aside from Coleman's strong outing, St. Edward was able to get a pair of runs in the sixth to take the victory in the opener.

"We were hitting right at them," Coleman said. "(But) I had a couple of days off and my pitches were working today."

St. Edward took its lead despite recording a hit in the sixth inning. Jim Fraczek got a 1-out walk and Adam Gilles reached base on an error. Jon Godfrey got an RBI fielder's choice scoring Fraczek and Gilles would reach home on a second Driscoll error.

"Riley has very dominant in every single start," St. Edward coach Gene Belmonte said. "He struck out 10 and didn't allow a walk."

Driscoll got its lone run when Phil Bongiovanni's triple scored Tom Alt to give the Highlanders a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth. Adam Halick (1-1) picked up the loss for Driscoll.