Immaculate Conception peaking again at right time

There's something about the baseball playoffs that agrees with Immaculate Conception.

Regional champions in two of the last three seasons, including the program's first sectional title a year ago, the Knights accomplished the feat with a sub-.500 record both times.

This season the Knights again sit with more losses than wins. Again, though, they'll be vying for a regional title.

Immaculate Conception brought its bats to Thursday's Class 2A Lisle semifinal at Benedictine University, rolling to a 10-3 win over Lisle.

The Knights (15-17), second-seeded in the regional, face top-seeded Aurora Christian in the 11 a.m. title game Saturday in Lisle.

"In the playoffs we just try to get on a roll and get that sense of urgency," said Knights winning pitcher Danny Muisenga, who improved to 6-4. "We just try to build off each game and build momentum. We're playing better each game, hitting better each game. Just playing better overall."

Immaculate Conception scored 3 clutch runs in the bottom of the first. The Knights put their first three runners on to load the bases, but Lisle starter Jay Osika (5-3) got two strikeouts to nearly close out the frame with no damage being done.

The Knights' Matt Purdom, however, drove a two-strike pitch to the fence to clear the bases. Lisle (12-19) pulled within 3-2 in the top of the fourth on Alec Blechschmidt's 2-run single, but Immaculate Conception took control in the bottom of the inning.

The Knights broke through for 7 runs on 6 hits to build a 10-2 lead. Steve Maloney, Muisenga and Jose Godinez each had run-scoring hits as six straight batters reached base at one point.

"I don't know what it is, but it's happened before where we get back into a game and they come right back and get more runs," said Lisle coach Pete Meyer. "I don't know if it's our focus or what, but we can't close the deal."

Immaculate Conception had 9 hits, all of them coming in the first and fourth innings. Muisenga, who struck out 11 and allowed only 4 hits, pitched 6 innings before being relieved by Kevin Nutley.

"A lot of times once we get a lead we kind of sit on it and don't really add on," said Knights coach Dan Holleman. "So when they got their 2 runs we talked about hitting again and putting this game out of reach. I wasn't expecting seven that inning, but I'm happy with the results."