Pitchers star as Hampshire, Crystal Lake South tied through 9

With temperatures hovering in the low 40's and the winds howling up to 20 mph, Tuesday's Fox Valley Conference baseball matchup between Hampshire and host Crystal Lake South figured to be a pitchers' duel.

It certainly lived up to expectations.

With Alex Crinigan and Michael Kruse excelling on the mound for the Whip-Purs, and Ryan Wilkening and Kory Olsen dominant for the Gators, it seemed appropriate that the game ended in a 1-1 tie after 9 innings.

The contest was suspended because of darkness and will be continued at a later date.

Both teams scored their lone runs in the first inning.

Hampshire (4-2, 0-1) grabbed a 1-0 lead on an RBI double by Matt Kielbasa which scored Noah Schrader, who reached on an error.

The Gators tied it in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Garrett Bright which scored Collin Chubb, who led off with a single.

Pitching dominated the rest of the game as neither could dent the scoreboard during the final 8 innings.

Wilkening, who retired the final 15 batters he faced, struck out five without allowing a walk in 6 innings. The Wisconsin-Oshkosh recruit allowed 1 run on 2 hits, all in the first inning.

"It was too cold and too early in the season to risk keeping Ryan out there," said Crystal Lake South coach Brian Bogda. "He mixed his pitches and pitched very well. Kory pitched well in relief."

Olsen hurled the final 3 innings for the Gators (6-2, 1-1) and blanked the Whip-Purs on 1 single. He struck out three and issued an intentional walk.

Hampshire's duo of Crinigan and Kruse were equally impressive.

Crinigan, the starter, worked the first 5 innings and allowed a first-inning run on 3 hits. The hard throwing right-hander struck out three, didn't walk a batter and hit a batter.

Kruse, who relieved Crinigan in the sixth, blanked the Gators in 4 innings of work on 5 singles. He struck out four and walked one.

"We were mindful of the weather conditions and weren't going to push Alex or Michael," said Hampshire coach John Sarna. "We had another pitcher ready to go in the 10th to replace Michael. Both Alex and Michael pitched great.

"We hit the ball well all day, but right at them."

Matt Schingel paced the Gators with 2 hits.