July 1, 2008 | LISLE, IL After losing two straight to drop their win percentage to .500 for the first time in three weeks, the DuPage Dragons got back on track Tuesday night as they beat the DuBois Bombers by a score of 3-1. The Dragons improved to 10-9 on the year, keeping hold of second place in the CICL. The Bombers fell to 7-15.
Eric Wyman (Illinois-Chicago) got the start on the mound for the Dragons, his first start after making five appearances out of the bullpen. He looked sharp from the get-go, retiring the Bombers in order in the first which included striking out two hitters. The Bombers did push across a run in the second inning. With one out in the inning, Corey Maines drew a walk and stole second. Jared Baehl smacked a two-out single to left that scored Maines and gave the Bombers a 1-0 lead.
The Dragons answered right back in the bottom of the inning. Designated hitter Matt Behren (Northern Illinois) reached base on an error by the pitcher to lead off the inning. In his at-bat, he was given second life when a foul pop up was dropped by the Bombers’ third baseman. His grounder was fielded cleanly by pitcher Justin Higdon, but surprisingly, the ball flipped out of his glove behind him and Behren beat out the throw. First baseman Phil Wunderlich (Louisville) followed up with a chopper down the first baseline that made its way to the corner for a double. Behren scored on the play and the game was tied at one.
The Dragons added to their total in the bottom of the third. Leftfielder Mark Noth (Belmont) smacked a one-out single to right for his second hit of the game. Shortstop Jordan Tokarz (Eastern Illinois) stepped to the plate, and on the first pitch he saw, ripped a laser to leftfield that cleared the fence for a two-run homer. The tater was Jordan’s first of the season and gave the Dragons a 3-1 lead.
Wyman cruised during his first start of the season. He ran into some trouble in the sixth inning when he gave up a walk and a single with one out in the inning. Andrew Estes (Oakland) came in to relieve him, and got the next two hitters to end the threat.
DuPage had their struggles at the plate on this night, but they received great relief from their bullpen to make up for it. Estes pitched through the eighth, giving up only three hits while striking out two in his two and two-thirds innings pitched. Brian Stroud (Western Michigan) came on in the ninth to close out the game. He struck out two in earning his first save of the season. Eric Wyman earned his first win, going five and one-third innings, giving up only one run on four hits while striking out seven.
The DuPage Dragons head to the road for their next four games. They take on the first place Springfield Sliders Wednesday night, July 2nd, at 7:05 pm. The Dragons next home game is Monday, July 7th, when they take on the Quincy Gems at 7:05 pm at the Lisle Sports Complex at Benedictine University. |
