Benet moves on from tough loss

It didn't take long for Benet's baseball team to distance itself from Monday's heartbreaking 4-3 nine-inning loss to Nazareth in LaGrange Park.

With a crazy week ahead, the Redwings simply don't have the time to feel sorry for themselves. Or the interest.

"You've just got to tip your cap to them, and it was one of those games where you hate to see someone lose," said Benet coach Scott Lawler. "It was a fun game to be a part of."

In the first of six East Suburban Catholic Conference games this week, Benet dropped the opener of a two-game series when a Roadrunners sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the ninth turned into an errant throw down the right-field line that allowed the winning run to score from second base.

The real heartbreak for Benet (11-6, 3-2), however, came in the bottom of the seventh when, facing a 3-1 deficit, Richie Kiernicki led off with a single for Nazareth (16-3, 6-1) and Ryan Kramer followed with a game-tying 2-run homer - his third in two days.

The lightning-quick comeback came on the heels of an impressive run for Benet starter Mike Powers, who retired nine straight batters leading up to Kiernicki's hit.

Brandon Bossard was the winning pitcher in relief for Nazareth starter Donald Kelly, who went 7 innings. Dan Minik took the loss for Benet.

"I'm seeing the ball real well right now," Kramer said. "I struggled early in the season and it's just about finding your pitch and being patient. Obviously it came through at the right time today."

Josh Crosby staked the Redwings to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second with an RBI single. After Nazareth tied the game on a third-inning error, Crosby again gave Benet a 3-1 lead in the fourth with a 2-run double.

Benet concludes its series with Nazareth on Wednesday in Lisle. The Redwings also have to make up ESCC games against Carmel on Tuesday and Thursday before facing Notre Dame in a Saturday doubleheader.

"Every conference game is tough ... every one," Lawler said. "You have to bury teams because you could be up 3 or 4 runs and they could come back."

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