FRANKFORT, IL - No. 4 Lincoln-Way East Griffins out-pitched the No. 7 Sandburg Eagles behind the left arm of Cole Kirschsieper (Illinois commit). The long ball was present in a windy game seeing three home runs on the day, but a timely 2-out hit in the 6th assured the victory for the Griffins over the Eagles.

In the first frame, Branden Comia (Illinois commit) and Ryan Hampe (UIC commit) delivered back to back solo shots putting the Eagles ahead 2-0. Comia laced an opposite field liner that was backed by the wind tunnel gusting to right-field all game long. Hampe then delivered a no-doubt opposite field four-bagger deep to right/center swaying the early momentum in the Eagles favor. Comia and Hampe both finished 1-for-3 on the day with a home run and one RBI apiece.

In the bottom of the first, Ryan Ritter answered with a home run of his own. Ritter got a high fastball and sent it over the centerfield wall. Ritter finished the day 1-for-2.

The pitching duel went back and forth seeing no runner touch home until the bottom of the 6th inning. Julian Everett (Lewis commit) led the inning off with a double, followed by an infield single by Jake Tencza (Illinois-Wesleyan commit) scoring Everett with a drawn in infield. A fielder's choice and a walk later, Joey Selvaggio delivered the go-ahead RBI seeing-eye single that gave the Griffins the 3-2 lead. Everett and Tencza both went 1-for-2 with a walk, Everett scored once while Tencza drove in one.

Kirschsieper picked up his tenth strikeout, striking out the final batter of the game, giving him and his team the victory. The lefty pitched efficiently using all three pitches in the zone, issuing zero walks on the day. Kirschsieper finished with a line: 7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 10 K, 0 BB.

Taking the loss was Evan Tenuta (Notre Dame commit) who pitched much better than a losing performance. Tenuta used a three pitch mix all game long with a high 80’s FB, but spotty control was the story issuing four walks to the Griffins. Tenuta finished with a line of: 5 ⅓ IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 K, 4 BB. Tenuta also delivered at the plate finishing 2-for-3 lacing a double to the opposite field gap.

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