Baseball: Stagg is Fit to Be Tied

Touching All the Bases: A big Southwest Suburban Red baseball game that had major implications for both teams ended in a 4-4 tie after 10 innings of baseball at Stagg on Tuesday. Bradley grabbed the lead in the top of the first after Stagg pitcher Scott Fewkes surrendered at leadoff walk. The Boilermakers scored three runs in the inning after stringing together three straight RBI hits, including a double from shortstop Austin Chinn. Bradley maintained its 3-0 lead until the bottom of the fourth when Stagg scratched across one run on a Max Orant RBI single. The Boilermakers added a run in the top of the fifth to make it 4-1. But the Chargers came roaring back in the home half of the inning. Stagg took advantage of a hit batter, a Bradley error on a sacrifice bunt and another RBI single from Orant to tie the game 4-4. And that's where it stayed until the umpires called it after 10 innings due to darkness. Stagg had its chances, including having the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh and just one out, and Brad Clark nearly missed a walk-off home run in the eighth, winding up with a triple instead. He was left stranded at third. Stagg had one more chance in the bottom of the 10th with Francisco Zavala drawing a leadoff walk. Pinch-runner Brett Kaiser later was doubled up off first base after Corey Chico popped out into foul territory.

Patch MVP: Stagg catcher Max Orant went 2-for-3 with a pair of walks, two singles, and two RBIs. 

Stagg Leaders: Scott Fewkes pitched 8 innings, striking out four, walking two and giving up three earned runs (4 total) on four hits. Brad Clark was 2-for-5 with a single, a triple, a run, and he reached on a fielder's choice. Mike Farnan was 1-for-5 with a single and a run.

Bradley Leaders: Pitcher Austin Denault (8 innings, 10 strikeouts, 4 walks, 8 hits, 3 earned runs); Jason Hines (2-for-3, walk, 2 singles, RBI); Austin Chinn (1-for-3, hit-by-pitch, double, RBI, run).

Quotable: Stagg Coach Matt O'Neill: "Our pitching kept us in the game, but our situational hitting was just terrible. We let a guy off the hook who wasn't throwing strikes. It just wasn't a good day at the plate. We had 12 strikeouts. With that, you won't beat anybody."

Team Records: Bradley is 16-10-1 and 7-4-1 in the SWSC Red. Stagg is 12-14-1 and 8-4-1 in the conference.

What's Next: Stagg heads to Lincoln-Way Central for a 4:30 p.m. game Wednesday.