(Sugar Grove, IL.) – Behind the pitching of Justin Sartori, Waubonsee Community College took game two and earned a split of their doubleheader against the College of DuPage. After dropping the first game 6-3, the Chiefs won the second game 5-3 as the sophomore right-hander struck out 11 batters in a complete game effort. In the process the Chiefs (7-8) snapped an eight-game losing streak, winning for the first time since a one-run victory over Illinois Tech's Junior Varsity on March 16 in Florida.
In the opener, Waubonsee grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the frame on a two-out, two-run double down the right field line by Garrett Goetz. DuPage (8-8) got one of those runs back when left-handed hitting Jack Howard smacked a solo home run to right center to lead off the second. The Chaparrals then loaded the bases with no outs in the third and tied the game on a sacrifice fly by Rocco Pascente. However, Chiefs' starter Sergio Gallardo worked out of the jam allowing just the one run. DuPage then took the lead in the top of the fourth pushing across a pair of runs off a tiring Gallardo.
A two-out, run scoring single to right by Sartori in the fifth got Waubonsee within a run. However, the Chiefs stranded runners at second and third as DuPage reliever Kolten Kapusinski got a ground out to first base for the third out. Goetz led off the sixth with his second double of the day. Waubonsee eventually loaded the bases but could not score as Chaparrals' reliever Ian Pickell got a pop out to second base to end the inning.
That swung the momentum back to DuPage's side as the Chaparrals were then able to tack on two huge insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Peter Sedlacek's two-run single to left center on a hit and run play proved to be a key moment. In the bottom of the seventh Waubonsee got two runners on base once again. However, with the potential tying run at the plate with just one out, DuPage's Chris Donohue came on in relief and struck out two Chiefs to end the game. Waubonsee was not able to fully take advantage of seven walks and two hit batters by Chaparrals' pitching, stranding 10 runners on base for the game. Goetz finished 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles, a walk and two runs batted in to lead Waubonsee's offense.
Game two the Chiefs jumped all over DuPage starter Tommy Louch in the first inning, scoring four times with two outs. A run-scoring single to center by Frank Dixon and a two-run double to right centerfield by Hogan McIntosh highlighted the inning. After that Louch settled in, retiring the next 11 Chiefs' batters. Meanwhile, Sartori was mowing down the Chaparrals, limiting them to just two hits while striking out 10 over five scoreless innings.
Waubonsee added a fifth run in the bottom half of the fifth as Dustin Imanaka beat out an infield hit between third and shortstop to start the inning. Mark Sommers then laid down a sacrifice bunt that was fielded by the Chaparrals' third baseman. Imanaka rounded second and headed toward third when no one covered third base initially. The ensuing throw across the infield from the first baseman skipped past DuPage's shortstop and out of play allowing Imanaka to score.
DuPage finally broke through against Sartori in the sixth on a two-out, two-run double down the left field line by Jack Oberli. Sartori then registered another strike out to end the inning. The Chaparrals threatened again in the top of the seventh, scoring a run on a double, an error and a ground out. With the potential tying run at the plate, Sartori once again buckled down inducing a pop out and fly out to left to end the game. The Sandwich High School alumnus scattered six hits over seven innings pitched to pick up his second win of the season. Oberli and Mitch Sandleback each had a pair of hits to lead DuPage's offense.