June 10th, 2009, Lisle, IL - After a tough loss to start the home stand, the Dragons welcomed the Danville Dans to town. After starting off the year 2-0, the Dragons brought a 3 game losing streak into the evenings match-up. At 2-3, the Dragons were looking to bounce back and get back to .500 overall.
Pitcher Eric Wagner (Naperville, Dayton University) got off to hot start, striking out 2 of the first 4 Dans in the game. Unfortunately the Dragons bats were cold until the 4th inning when Sean Flanagan (Downers Grove, Iowa) knocked a single that drove in Rafael Garcia (Chicago, University of Illinois Chicago) to plate the Dragons first run. Through four, the Dragons still trailed 2-1.
Down by a run in the bottom of the 5th, Cole Tyrell, the teams RBI leader, strolled to the plate with the speedy Austin Kingsolver (Dana Point, Cal State Fullerton) standing on second. Tyrell ripped a double down the left field line, and the Dragons knotted the score at 2 apiece. It was shaping up to be another tight game for the home team.
In the 6th, DH Barrett Serrato (West Chicago, Purdue University) stepped to the plate with runners at the corners. Serrato lifted a fly ball to left which had just enough air under it for Rafael Garcia to tag up and score from third. The score now stood at 3-2, but would not last long.
The Dans then proceeded to put up 2 runs in the top of the 8th, giving them back the lead at 4-3. In the bottom of the 8th, the Dragons were threatening again with runners in scoring position and only one out. Unfortunately, Grant Fillipitch (LaGrange Park, Butler University) grounded to third, and Barrett Serrato hit a sharp liner to second, and the Dragons left the 8th without pushing home a run.
Still down by 1 run in the bottom of the 9th, the Dragons would need some late game heroics to send it to extras or escape with a win. Sadly, neither would happen, as Adam Davis (Bloomingdale, University of Illinois) struck out swinging for the first out. Austin Kingsolver then grounded to second and appeared to beat the throw but was called out by the first base umpire. Marvin Sanchez (Chicago, Northern Illinois) dug in with two outs and went down on strikes leaving Cole Tyrell stranded in the on deck circle. The Dragons dropped a heart breaker 4-3, leaving their record at 2 wins and 4 losses.
The Dragons next home game is scheduled for Thursday, June 11th, at 7:05 pm. The Dragons will host the Springfield Sliders who took the only meeting between the teams 1-0 in Tuesday’s home opener. Gates will open at 6:05 pm. Tickets can be purchased by calling the ticket office at 630-241-2255 or by purchasing online under the ticket menu.
