(Sugar Grove, IL) – On a beautiful and sunny Friday afternoon Waubonsee Community College's baseball team pulled out a pair of thrilling non-conference wins over visiting Triton College. The Chiefs (20-27) pulled out a wild 4-3 win in the bottom of the seventh of the opener, a game that featured a combined seven hits and nine errors by the two teams. In stark contrast game two was a pitcher's duel with solid defense as Waubonsee completed the sweep with a 1-0 victory over the Trojans (13-33) behind a two-hit, complete game shutout by Nate Ross.

In the opener Waubonsee struck first in the bottom of the first as Ryan Buck scored when Jonny Marquez's two-out pop fly was dropped in shallow left center field. The Chiefs returned the favor in the top of the second as the Trojans utilized a walk and a pair of wild pitches by Waubonsee starter Donavan Zielke to knot the score. The Chiefs threatened in the bottom half of the inning by loading the bases with one out. However, Trey Hernandez smashed a one-hopper right at the Trojan's shortstop for an inning-ending double play. Buck then put Waubonsee back in front when he led off the bottom of the third with a towering solo home run to right field, his third long ball of the season. The Chiefs added a second run in the inning through a walk, stolen base, error and wild pitch to take a 3-1 lead.

Triton cut the lead to one run in the top of the fifth as Donny Tober drilled a one-out triple to the fence in left center field 400 feet away from home plate. He scored two pitches later on a ground out to second base by Keyber Rodriguez. Zielke then worked around a pair of walks to escape any further damage and keep Waubonsee in front. A leadoff walk in the top of the sixth got the potential tying run on base for Triton. But the Chiefs were the recipient of some good luck. On a hit-and-run play the Trojans' Jason Sullivan smacked a one-hopper right to the second base bag where Waubonsee second-sacker Aidan Sheehan was already headed. Sheehan snagged the ball, stepped on the base and fired to first to complete the double play and thwart Triton.

With Zileke's pitch count just over 100 Waubonsee's bullpen took over in the top of the seventh. Triton proceeded to tie the game as Jorgie Vazquez drew a leadoff walk and scored with two outs on three Chiefs' miscues, the last one being an overthrow to third base. That set up the wild finish as Sheehan laid down a perfect drag bunt for a leadoff hit in the bottom of the seventh. With one out the sophomore stole second base with the throw going into centerfield. Sheehan scrabbled to his feet and took off for third as the Trojans' center fielder Brady Small gathered in the errant throw and fired toward third. But his throw sailed over third baseman Tanner Johnson's head as Sheehan slid into the base. Once again, he clamored to his feet and raced toward home sliding in just before Johnson's throw arrived for a walk-off 4-3 win. Zielke got a no decision despite allowing just two hits over six innings. The right-hander from Oswego East High School struck out six and walked six. Buck finished the game 1 for 2 with a home run, a walk, a run driven in and two scored. 

In game two the Chiefs threatened in the bottom of the third but left the bases loaded in a scoreless contest. Waubonsee looked to break through the next inning by getting the first two runners on base via an error and bunt base hit. But a double play momentarily stymied the Chiefs' offense. Nathan Durant followed with a two-out, two-strike single to left field to drive in Austin Stone with the first and as it turned out the only run of the game. Waubonsee eventually loaded the bases again before stranding all three runs to take a 1-0 lead into the fifth frame. 

Meanwhile, Ross kept the Trojans hitless heading into the fifth inning. His no-it bid was broken up when Donny Tober ripped a one-out double to the right center field fence. But the right-hander from Providence Catholic High School retired the next two hitters to keep the Trojans off the scoreboard. In the top of the sixth Triton got the potential tying run on base once again, but Chiefs' catcher Noe Marrero gunned down Mark Bolz trying to steal second. The score remained 1-0 heading into the top of the seventh inning with Ross surrendering just one hit up to that point. A leadoff single by Small put the potential tying run on base once more, but Ross retired the next three batters to finish off the shutout, getting Small to ground out to Hernandez at third base for the final out.

Ross struck out five and walked two in picking up his second win of the spring. Waubonsee only managed four hits off triton's Lucio Mockler but made them count, despite leaving eight runners on base. Marrero finished 1 for 2 with a double and a walk, and Eric Gonzalez reached base twice and stole three bases. The Chiefs are in action again tomorrow, Saturday, May 4 when they host McHenry County College in their final home games of the season. The doubleheader is set to begin at noon in Sugar Grove. Coach Rodney Lopez' crew closes out the regular season on Sunday, May 5 when they travel to Sauk Valley Community College for a twin bill starting at 1:00 p.m. in Dixon.