By Drake Skleba

 

GLEN ELLYN - Geneva junior Mike Monaghan took matters into his own hands in Wednesday’s big Western Sun Conference showdown between co-leaders at Glenbard South. The 6-foot-1, 167-pound right-hander fired a complete-game five-hitter and hit a home run to boot in leading the Vikings to a 6-2 win over Glenbard South.

 

Monaghan allowed one earned run and struck out four. In the first inning, he also launched a towering blast over the left field fence with a mate aboard to give the Vikings a lead they would not relinquish.

 

“We picked up a big road win today,” said Monaghan. “I pitched well today and my defense really backed me. I hit the ball well on the homer. With the wind blowing in I was hoping it would go over the left fielder’s head and it went out. We are playing really good ball right now and we have a long way to go but I am very optimistic about the season.”

 

Monaghan’s (2-for-3, HR, 2RBI, BB) blast was the third of the season for the multi-talented junior.

 

Glenbard South (10-7; 5-3) answered with a single tally in the bottom of the first. Raider catcher Nick Slezak (1-for-3, RBI) singled home junior Ben Gaspar with the first Raider run.

 

Geneva picked up a pair of unearned runs in the second against Glenbard South starting right-hander Joel Genovesi (2-1). Genovesi threw a complete game, allowing three earned runs and seven hits for the Raiders in defeat.

 

In the top of the sixth, Viking senior SS Jason Adams (1-for-2, RBI, BB, R) singled home a Viking run and in the seventh they added another unearned run as the Raider defense committed three errors in the inning.

 

Glenbard South picked up an unearned run in  bottom of the seventh and had two runners on with one out, but Monaghan bore down and retired the final two Raider hitters to chalk up another Viking win.

 

Monaghan’s battery mate, senior catcher Eric Renner, called a quality game and had a pair of hits, including a double for the Vikings.

 

“Mike pitched a great game for us today,” said Renner. “He has a great two-seam fastball that they were hitting to our shortstop Jason (Adams). I hit well today. I ripped a couple of curveballs to right-center and left-center.”

 

Geneva (11-5; 6-2) went into today’s action in a four-way tie with Glenbard South, DeKalb (10-4; 5-2) and defending WSC Champs Batavia (7-7; 5-2). DeKalb played at Yorkville today and Batavia was at Sycamore.

 

“Mike Monaghan pitched an outstanding game for us,” said Geneva head coach Matt Hahn. “Mike’s homer was huge. It’s good to jump out and get the lead. We played well defensively tonight. With this win we have won this big series and go for the sweep tomorrow at home.”

 

Glenbard South looks to salvage a game in this series as the Raiders will travel to Geneva for the series finale on Thursday.

 

“We just have to start swinging the bats better,” said Glenbard South head coach Mike Riley. “Joel settled down and pitched well for us. We just have to score more than two runs to win games.”