Late rally preserves No. 3 Parkway South?s undefeated season
April 27, 2011
Written by Mike Rosenbaum
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MANCHESTER, MO - The clouds parted and the sun emerged (albeit temporarily) for Tuesday?s Suburban West match up between No. 3 Parkway South and Marquette. Guided by strong senior leadership, the Patriots (16-0, 8-0) have had an unblemished season thus far, while Marquette has been successful with a roster (10-8, 4-4) comprised of a slew of talented sophomores and juniors. Although the Mustangs played them tight throughout the entire game, Parkway South ultimately won the contest 5-3 thanks to a late rally.
The game was scoreless until the third inning, when a double by LF Matt Seevers drove in RHP Andy Bartlett to give Marquette a 1-0 lead.
The Patriots came right back with two runs in the bottom half of the inning, thanks to a few base hits and a pair of costly infield errors by Marquette
Marquette threatened to tie the game in the fourth when they put runners at the corners with one out, but was denied as Parkway South C Eric Kroupa picked off the runner on third with a perfect throw.
The Mustangs finally tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the fifth. After a leadoff single by Bartlett and a sacrifice bunt by 2B Austin Fridley, Seevers ripped an RBI single to right field. CF Sean Ullrich followed with a single that once again put runners at the corners with one out. However, the Patriots were able to escape the jam unscathed thanks to their second double play of the game.
In the bottom half of the inning, Parkway South demonstrated why they are one of the best teams in Missouri, as they capitalized on the change in momentum caused by the double play. After a leadoff double by 3B Ryan Fischer, 1B Antony Duke was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. CF John Calloway then chopped a potential double play ball to second base that was mishandled, allowing Fischer to score and giving the Patriots a 3-2 lead. The next batter, DH James Calloway, delivered the decisive blow when he broke the game open with a two-run double.
Trailing 5-2 heading into their final at-bat, Marquette made an admirable comeback before ultimately losing 5-3. After pinch hitters Korey Laughbaum doubled and Matt Hink singled, Fridley drove in the Mustangs third run of the game with a sacrifice fly to center field. That was where the rally ended, however, as Parkway South retired the next two batters to secure their 16th win of the season.
LHP Forrest Herrmann improved to 3-0 this season with the win over Marquette. The senior allowed three runs on 10 hits in six innings of work. He struck out one, hit a batter and walked none.
John Calloway relieved Herrmann in the seventh and pitched out of two on, no out jam to record his first save of the season.
The Patriots? offense was lead by Fischer, who was 2-for-3 with a double and two runs, and James Calloway, who finished the game 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI.
Bartlett was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs (three earned runs) and scattering five hits over five innings. The senior fanned one, hit two batters and did not issue a walk. The right-hander featured a fastball that sat between 80-82mph and topped out at 83 mph, as well as a considerably-slower slider at 59-62 mph.
Sophomore RHP Matt Hink threw a perfect sixth inning in relief of Bartlett
Seevers, a SIUE recruit, was 2-for-3 with a double and pair of RBI for Marquette, while Bartlett finished 2-for-2 with two runs scored. SS Danny Mannion was 1-for-3 and made an impressive diving play on a ground ball back up the middle.
Parkway South?s undefeated season will be put to the test this weekend when they play back-to-back games against Oakville (13-2, 6-1) on Friday (4:15 @ Parkway South) and Saturday (noon @ Oakville).