June 14, 2008 | DUBOIS, IL A night after having their win streak halted at three games, the DuPage Dragons bounced back and defeated the Dubois Bombers by a score of 5-3 Saturday night in Huntinburg, IN. The win was the Dragons’ first road win since opening night and improved their record to 5-3 on the year. The Bombers dropped to 1-6.
For the fourth time in five games, the Dragons were the first to score in the contest, as they were able to put up a run in the second inning. Rightfielder Dave Reynolds (Northern Illinois) manufactured the run all on his own, and it began with his one-out single and steal of second base. With two outs, Reynolds was able to steal third, and scored on a wild pitch by Bombers starter Michael Bugary. The Dragons put up another tally in the fifth, courtesy of second baseman Kevin Tokarski (Illinois State). Leftfielder Mark Noth (Belmont) reached base with a leadoff single, then advanced on Bugary’s second wild pitch of the game. Centerfielder Justin Wilson (Oakland) followed with a single that advanced Noth to third. With no outs in the inning, Tokarski executed a perfect squeeze play that scored Noth from third and gave the Dragons a 2-0 lead.
The Bombers stormed back to tie the contest in the bottom of the inning. After hitting back-to-back singles to start the inning, the Bombers scored their first run when an error allowed Zach Rowles to score from second, putting runners on first and third. With runners on the corners and no outs in the inning, Sam Konnoff hit a grounder to short. The Dragons were able to get the runner at second, but couldn’t finish the double play as Konnoff beat the throw to first and another run crossed the plate. The Bombers almost took the lead on a one-out single to right by Rich Gorman. In an attempt to catch Konnoff, who was trying to go from first to third on the play, Dave Reynolds’ throw from rightfield got passed third baseman Nick Popescu (Bradley). Konnoff attempted to score on the error, but the leftfielder Noth backed up the play, threw the ball to catcher Matt Behren (Northern Illinois) to get the sliding Konnoff for the second out of the inning. Dragons starter Anthony Manville (Iowa) retired the next Bombers hitter and the fifth inning finally came to a close.
The Dragons took the lead for good in the seventh inning when they were able to push across three runs. They started the inning by loading the bases on three consecutive singles by Noth, Wilson, and Tokarski. Nick Popescu grounded out to shortstop, keeping two runners in scoring position while scoring the first run of the inning. After a fly out to rightfield failed to score a run, the Bombers decided to intentionally walk first baseman Phil Wunderlich (Louisville) to load the bases with two outs in the inning. Designated hitter Scott Sexton (Oakland) took advantage, ripping a two-RBI double that gave the Dragons the lead at 5-2. The lead was almost four runs, but Wunderlich was thrown out at home on a perfectly executed relay by the Bombers.
Dubois plated one run in the bottom half of the inning on a Konnoff RBI single that spelled the end of the night for Manville. But that was as close as they would come as Dragons reliever Brad Reigler (Illinois-Chicago) went the final 2 2/3 innings without giving up a hit to close out the game for DuPage. Manville picked up the win going 6 1/3 innings, giving up all three runs, only two of them earned. Reigler picked up his first save of the season.
The Dragons will face the Dubois Bombers again tomorrow night, June 15th. Gametime is scheduled for 6:05 pm. The Dragons return home Wednesday night, June 18th, when they face the Springfield Sliders at 7:05 pm at the Lisle Sports Complex at Benedictine University. Tickets start at $6 with kids five and under admitted free. Group rates are available by calling the Dragons’ ticket office at 630-241-2255. |
