Lowden, South Elgin shut down Fremd

South Elgin pitcher Ken Lowden didn't get rattled when Fremd got a quick run.

Lowden pitched through Fremd's 1-0 first inning lead and would not surrender another run over the next 4 innings as South Elgin took a 5-1 nonconference victory home baseball victory Tuesday.

“I tried to stay focused on playing baseball and getting the job done,” said Lowden, who picked up his first victory of the season. “I just kept pitching the way I always pitch. My fastball was doing its thing. My off-speed was working better than I thought it was going to.”

The Storm (2-0) answered back with 4 runs in the third inning to go up 4-1. Fremd (1-2) scored its only run on an error as Lowden did not allow an earned run giving up just 4 hits.

Andrew Perry picked up his second save in as many games finishing the final 2 innings. Perry did allow 3 hits, including back-to-back singles to Sean Stutzman (3 for 3) and Kurt Kaufman with two outs in the top of the seventh.

But he then got Matt Wisniewski to fly out to end the game.

South Elgin was outhit 7-3 in the game, but it was when the Storm recorded the hits that allowed for a 4-run third. Robbie Green's lone hit kicked off the inning, which included an error, a passed ball and a wild pitch. Fremd's most costly play many have trumped those three, though.

Dan Heine advanced to first on a dropped-third strike. On the same play Ryan Ford, who had reached base on the error, scored to break the 1-all tie.

Heine stole second and was followed by a walk to Dillon Gardner. Both players scored on Andrew Weedman's 2-out single.

Stutzman (1-1) suffered the loss for Fremd.

“This is the style we have to play,” Storm coach Jim Kating said. “We have to take advantage of every opportunity that they give us. Every run is precious.”

Fremd's offensive output was even more frustrating considering the lack of runs. The Vikings had 6 runners in scoring position left on base and 12 total baserunners left stranded. South Elgin retired the side just once in the game.

“We outhit them, but they had some timely hits and capitalized on some errors,” Fremd coach Chris Piggott said. “We had chances to score in every inning and didn't do it.”