LOCKPORT, IL - Top 15 teams in the Power 25, No. 3 Lockport and No. 11 Lincoln-Way East, faced off at Ed Flink field in Lockport on Thursday afternoon. The two teams, who came in with a combined total of three losses, played a tight one throughout and despite only collecting three hits on the day, Lockport (11-2) came away with a walk-off 2-1 victory.

With one out, the bases loaded and the game tied at one in the bottom of the seventh inning, lead-off hitter Collin Woulfe drove a fly ball to center field. The fly out easily scored Jimmy Heintz from third base. Heintz reached base on the first of two sacrifice bunts that Lincoln-Way East (13-2) could not record an out on earlier in the frame.  

The Porters tied the game at one in the bottom of the sixth on yet another sacrifice fly. With one out Nick Schindler flew out to center field, scoring CJ Weins from third base. Weins had reached base on a one-out walk. On the day, the Porters could only muster three hits off of Lincoln-Way East pitcher Cole Kirschsieper but they still found a way to get the win.

Kirschsieper, a junior left-handed pitcher committed to Illinois was his usual self on Thursday afternoon. The talented left-hander pounded the strike zone throughout, worked in the mid-to-upper 80’s and showed feel for an above-average changeup. Kirschsieper took the tough loss going 6.2 innings, scattering three hits, two runs, one earned, struck out seven and walked one.

Lockport starter Tommy Louch pitched extremely well in his own right. The senior right-hander committed to St. Xavier used a fastball/curveball combination to keep the Lincoln-Way East Griffins offense off balance. Louch’s fastball sat 82-84 mph, touching 85 and he showed good feel for his curveball which had 12/6 shape and depth. Louch went 4.2 innings, scattered four hits, one unearned run, struck out three and walked one.

The Griffins struck first with one run in the top of the second inning. Jake Tencza led off the frame with a double and scored with two outs when Matt Watson hit a sharp ground ball to first base that went under the glove of the first baseman and into right field.

Richard Jesse came out of the bullpen and got the win for Lockport. The senior right-hander threw the final 1.1 innings without giving up a hit and struck out one. Schindler went 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI to pace the Porter offense. John Weis also collected a hit for the Porters.

Shortstop Ryan Ritter stood out throughout the game for the Griffins. He took four quality at-bats, finishing 2-for-3 with a double and a walk. His one out was a line-drive right at the center fielder. Tencza also had two hits, a double and scored a run for the Griffins.

For more in-depth notes from the game - and all other games that we cover - visit the Illinois Scout Blog later.

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