NAC Tournament Hopes No More for Eagles Baseball
Nick Veach
Issue date: 5/4/10 Section: Sports
If there was any hope for a Northern Athletics Conference Tournament appearance, it was shattered this past weekend as the Benedictine University baseball team dropped consecutive doubleheaders to Concordia University Chicago and Aurora University.
Coming into Saturday's double-dip with CUC, the Eagles were tied for fourth place in the NAC standings.
Not only was Benedictine happy to be clinging to the fourth spot despite their "shaky" season, but the fourth spot would also ensure them of the final NAC Tournament bid come mid-May.
Unfortunately for BU, playing the tougher portion of their schedule has officially put a damper on a postseason appearance, marking the first time since 2007 that the Eagles will not be competing in the NAC Tournament.
Like many games this season, Benedictine was victimized by poor defense and pitching, as they were trounced by CUC 18-6 in Game 1.
Outfielders Mitch McMeen and Kevin Hendricks each contributed two hits apiece, along with an RBI, while junior outfielder Josh Zenawick went 1-for-4 from the plate.
Junior right-hander Jake Thompson suffered his second loss (4-2), giving up 15 runs in a very uncharacteristic 4.1 innings of work.
While the second contest proved to be much closer than the first, the outcome remained the same with CUC prevailing 12-11 in a wild affair.
Benedictine's offensive success kept them in the game, bashing 13 hits. Eight of nine starters recorded hits for BU, including freshman Nick Karakosta, who went 3-for-6 with two RBIs.
Seniors Kevin Ross and Colin Gilreath added two hits apiece with Gilreath driving in two. Hendricks continued his stellar offensive season, going 1-for-4 with four RBIs.
While the offense remained successful, the same could not be said for the Eagles' pitching staff - a pitching staff who would wind up using 11 pitchers and allowing 58 runs in the weekend's four games.
Although starter Kyle Kukulski allowed seven runs on ten hits in 5.1 innings of work, it was sophomore reliever Pat Collis who took the loss (0-1), giving up two runs in two innings of work.
Unfortunately for Benedictine, Sunday afternoon's doubleheader with Aurora University picked up right where Saturday left off.
In a pair of games which totaled seven BU errors, the Spartans had no problem sweeping the Eagles right out of their home park, 18-5 and 10-1.
Benedictine will return home Saturday afternoon to host the NAC-leading Regents of Rockford College in the final doubleheader of the 2010 season.
First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. at the Sports Complex, preceded by the Benedictine University Senior Day ceremony.
Coming into Saturday's double-dip with CUC, the Eagles were tied for fourth place in the NAC standings.
Not only was Benedictine happy to be clinging to the fourth spot despite their "shaky" season, but the fourth spot would also ensure them of the final NAC Tournament bid come mid-May.
Unfortunately for BU, playing the tougher portion of their schedule has officially put a damper on a postseason appearance, marking the first time since 2007 that the Eagles will not be competing in the NAC Tournament.
Like many games this season, Benedictine was victimized by poor defense and pitching, as they were trounced by CUC 18-6 in Game 1.
Outfielders Mitch McMeen and Kevin Hendricks each contributed two hits apiece, along with an RBI, while junior outfielder Josh Zenawick went 1-for-4 from the plate.
Junior right-hander Jake Thompson suffered his second loss (4-2), giving up 15 runs in a very uncharacteristic 4.1 innings of work.
While the second contest proved to be much closer than the first, the outcome remained the same with CUC prevailing 12-11 in a wild affair.
Benedictine's offensive success kept them in the game, bashing 13 hits. Eight of nine starters recorded hits for BU, including freshman Nick Karakosta, who went 3-for-6 with two RBIs.
Seniors Kevin Ross and Colin Gilreath added two hits apiece with Gilreath driving in two. Hendricks continued his stellar offensive season, going 1-for-4 with four RBIs.
While the offense remained successful, the same could not be said for the Eagles' pitching staff - a pitching staff who would wind up using 11 pitchers and allowing 58 runs in the weekend's four games.
Although starter Kyle Kukulski allowed seven runs on ten hits in 5.1 innings of work, it was sophomore reliever Pat Collis who took the loss (0-1), giving up two runs in two innings of work.
Unfortunately for Benedictine, Sunday afternoon's doubleheader with Aurora University picked up right where Saturday left off.
In a pair of games which totaled seven BU errors, the Spartans had no problem sweeping the Eagles right out of their home park, 18-5 and 10-1.
Benedictine will return home Saturday afternoon to host the NAC-leading Regents of Rockford College in the final doubleheader of the 2010 season.
First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. at the Sports Complex, preceded by the Benedictine University Senior Day ceremony.