Only darkness can stop Benet, Nazareth
There are few things in high school baseball more frustrating than a tie.
But that's what the looming darkness did to Tuesday's East Suburban Catholic Conference matchup between Benet and Nazareth in Lisle.
Jack Schneider singled home 2 runs for the Redwings (11-3, 3-0) in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extra innings with the score tied 10-10, but neither team pushed across a run in the eighth inning and the game was suspended.
The game will be picked up at some point next week in the top of the ninth inning.
"We're a really resilient team," Schneider said. "With the players we've got, we have so much confidence. We never feel out of it."
Benet found itself in catch-up mode for most of the game, trailing 2-0 after a half inning and 7-3 in the middle of the second. Nazareth (12-3, 2-1) built an 8-6 fifth-inning lead before the Redwings tied it in the bottom of the fifth on a Brandon Gorz sacrifice fly and Schneider's RBI double.
The Roadrunners took yet another lead in the seventh on Michael Prosecky's run-scoring single and Derek Salata's sacrifice fly. With two outs and runners on second and third, Schneider's second hit of the game tied it up.
"Our guys fought the entire game, and I'm proud of them for that," said Benet coach Scott Lawler. "If we see that fight all the time, we're going to have a nice season."
Benet held its only lead of 3-2 at the end of the first inning. Marty Dosen singled home a run in the inning.
Nazareth's Dom Milano doubled home 2 runs and Joe Trelenberg launched a 2-run home run as part of a 5-run second inning.
After beating Nazareth 12-1 on Monday, Benet will have to wait a little while to see if they can get another sweep in the ESCC.
"This conference is tough with so many tough teams and good players," Schneider said. "It would have been nice to get a walk-off today."
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