By Matt Huck
Area Scout 

LAKE ZURICH, IL – No. 9 Mundelein came back to defeat Lake Zurich 5-4 on Monday afternoon in a game that featured some interesting calls, fielders choices galore, and errors.

The Mustangs jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a groundout by Brendan Murphy scoring Nick Stricker, who reached on an error to start the inning. Mundelein was kept out of big inning when Jeff Morton was called out by the umpire going from second to third on the Murphy groundball. Morton appeared to be safe as well as Murphy, with the first baseman leaving early to make the throw to third.

Lake Zurich answered in the bottom half of the first thanks to a pair of errors. Bears starter Matt Svanson settled in after a rocky first striking out seven hitters over the next four frames. Svanson intrigued those in attendance with an athletic, projectable frame and a fastball that sat 86-88 mph for six innings.

The Bears added to their lead in the third with two runs on a fielders choice and another Mundelein error. With a 3-1 lead and Svanson cruising it seemed the upset was on the way for Lake Zurich, but Mundelein answered back in a big way.

The top of the sixth saw eight Mustang hitters coming to the plate. Ryan Patel, Andrew Beres, and Nick Stricker each drove in runs to give them a 4-3 lead. With ace Brendan Murphy on the mound it seemed this would be all Mundelein would need. 

Shane Nolan started the bottom of the sixth with a single and moved up on a passed ball. Murphy struck out the next two hitter, but with two strikes 8-hole hitter Austin Krause laced a single with the tying run.

In keeping with the fashion of the game Mundelein loaded the bases in the top of the seventh thanks to three straight one out walks, and scored the winning run on a passed ball.

Related Content