6-02-2011 vs. Moline Maroons (Sectional Semi-Final)
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Wildcats Beat the Maroons in Sectional Semi-Final 2-0
Matthew James continued his stellar tournament pitching, shutting out the Moline Maroons in a 2-0 victory, sending the Wildcats into Saturday’s Sectional Championship against Edwardsville. The game was locked in pitcher’s duel between James and Moline’s Seth Fuller through four and a half innings, until the Wildcats broke loose for the two runs they needed. Kyle Vaughn had the key double to break the ice. The Wildcats improve to 31-7 on the year, tying the school record for wins in a season.
James faced only one over the minimum through the first four innings, but faced a threat in the 5th when Moline got a one-out single and a walk. James struck out the next hitter for the second out and got a lazy fly to left to end that inning. After a quick 6th inning, the Maroons threatened again in the 7th. A leadoff single to center was followed by a shallow fly to center by Fuller. Another single just past shortstop Kyle Vaughn’s glove put two men on before a ground ball to second base for an out moved them into scoring position. James struck out a pinch hitter, though, on a 1-2 curve ball to end the game. James gave up five hits over seven innings, walking only one and striking out nine.
The Wildcats bats were not frightened by hard throwing Western Illinois recruit Seth Fuller. The Wildcats only managed five hits, but only struck out three times and produced a lot of good battles at the plate. An Alex Jefferson single and Wes Sery walk in the first did not produce anything and a Matthew James leadoff double in the second did not break the ice when he was cut down on a nice play by Fuller on a squeeze attempt. In the 5th, James led off with a single up the middle before Erik Sipes sacrificed him to second. Garrett Cook’s ground ball to short was thrown away for a key play in the game to put runners on the corners. Vaughn then doubled into right center to score courtesy runner Ryan Speller and move Cook to third. Jefferson drove a sacrifice fly to right to score Cook and make it 2-0.
James led the Wildcats with two hits while Vaughn, Jefferson and Seifert had the other. Vaughn and Jefferson had the runs batted in.
The Wildcats face Edwardsville in the Sectional Championship at Jack Horenberger Field at IWU on Saturday at noon.