SCOTS PUT ON THEIR SUNDAY BEST

The Fighting Scots played baseball on four days from April 13-17, and all they had to show for three of those dates was losses. But, all things considered, Sunday’s two victories over Illinois College at Glasgow Field made it a good week.

Against the Blueboys, sophomores Matt Tye (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein) and Brian Chandler (Petersburg, Ill./Athens) hurled back-to-back gems as the Scots picked up a 1-0, 9-2 sweep. The Scots’ other action included a 2-1 loss to Robert Morris-Springfield on Friday, a 12-9 defeat at IC on Monday and a 10-8 setback on Tuesday at Illinois Wesleyan.

If not for the fact that Monmouth’s lead was just one run for the entire game, Tye’s shutout was among the least stressful a baseball fan will ever see. He allowed just three Blueboys to reach second base, and only one with less than two outs. No runners got to third, and Tye punctuated his efficient three-hit performance by retiring IC’s final seven batters to seal his first collegiate win.

An RBI single in the first by junior Ryan Priola (St. Charles, Ill./East) proved to be all the support Tye would need.

"It all starts on the mound," said MC coach Roger Sander of Monmouth’s impressive Sunday showing. "Matt Tye threw the way I thought he would for the past two years, and Brian Chandler has just been very consistent for us."

Chandler got touched for three hits and an unearned run in the first frame of the nightcap, but he was solid the rest of the way, scattering four hits in the final eight innings as he improved to 4-0. Junior Ryan Stubler’s two-run single put the Scots in front to stay in the first, and Monmouth broke the game open with six runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Solid pitching and timely hitting were certainly present, and Monmouth’s defense rose to the occasion, too. In particular, Priola flashed some great leather, totaling 15 assists in the sweep.

After getting just 10 hits in 18 innings against the Scots on Sunday, the Blueboys bats woke up 24 hours later in Jacksonville. IC reached three Monmouth pitchers for 17 hits in eight frames in handing the Scots their first MWC defeat of the season. Crooked numbers in the fourth and fifth frames allowed the hosts to break open a 3-3 game and drop Monmouth’s league record to 4-1.

The Scots’ 11-hit attack included a double and two singles by Stubler. Sashko added three RBI.

The next day, host Illinois Wesleyan rallied on two occasions, seizing the lead for good in the fifth when it turned a bunt single, a steal and another hit into a run. That made the score 8-7, and IWU tacked on insurance runs in the sixth and eighth.

Monmouth had a pair of three-run innings to take leads of 3-0 in the first and 7-5 in the fourth. Bice’s two-run single was the big hit in the first frame. He finished with two hits and three RBIs, and Stubler added three hits and drove in two. Sashko and Priola also added two hits apiece as the Scots fell to 9-12 on the year.

Against RM-S, two late runs allowed the visiting Eagles to come away with their one-run win. Monmouth snapped a 0-0 tie in the bottom of the fifth, when a sacrifice fly drove in Hryckiewicz, who had walked. But Robert Morris replied with its own sac fly in the top of the sixth. Two innings later, an infield hit and a sacrifice bunt set the stage for Nick Joyce’s game-winning single. Senior Ross Reedy (Monmouth, Ill./Monmouth) and sophomore Chris Schwarz (Moline, Ill./Moline) combined to blank the Eagles through the first five frames.

"We lost three tough ones," said Sander of the trio of non-Sunday games. "We easily could have won all three."

Even in the largest loss, the three-run decision vs. IC, the Scots had the go-ahead run at the plate when the game ended. And despite surrendering 10 runs to the Titans, Sander said, "Nobody’s hitting bombs on us. They had five infield hits and two bunt singles" in their 17-hit attack.

Sander said that Tye and Chandler will take the mound again when Monmouth hosts Knox on Saturday for a doubleheader starting at noon.

"We talk about winning them all at home and splitting on the road," said Sander of the MWC race. "So far, we’ve taken care of business, and we’re in the driver’s seat. We’re in (the playoffs) if we protect our home field."

VAULTERS, SPRINTERS EXCEL AT DRAKE

At Saturday’s Jim Duncan Invitational at Drake University, the majority of the events were won by the host Bulldogs or other Division I teams, including Illinois State, Iowa State, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Wayne State and Bradley.

One of the exceptions, however, came in the pole vault, as a pair of MC juniors claimed first place. Peter Sprecher (Canton, Ill./Canton) soared 16'6-3/4 to automatically qualify for next month’s national meet, while Megan McKenna (Chicago, Ill./Resurrection) won the women’s competition. Although her official height was listed as 10'11-3/4, she cleared a provisional-qualifying height of 11'5-3/4 in a jump-off, and that mark is currently ranked 15th in the nation.

"Peter was really solid," said MC coach Roger Haynes. "He had a great workout on Thursday and set himself up to jump well. He’s realizing that by taking care of the little technical things he can really be at his best."

Dante Daniels (Waukegan, Ill./Gurnee-Warren) didn’t post a victory, but the Fighting Scot senior was also a star of the competition, placing second in the 100-meter dash (10.81) and third in the 200-meter dash (21.66). The latter time was a provisional qualifier for the national meet.

Daniels, who was honored as the Midwest Conference’s Performer of the Week in men’s track events, also ran legs on two Monmouth relay teams that captured second place with provisional-qualifying times. He was joined by sophomores Aaron Daverin (Hersher, Ill./Herscher) and Luke Reschke (Geneseo, Ill./Geneseo) and senior Tyler Rundle (Monmouth, Ill./Warren) in the 4x100 (41.85). Senior Josh Reschke (Geneseo, Ill./Geneseo) took Daverin’s place on the 4x400 squad, which finished in 3:16.41 and included a 47.8 leg for Luke Reschke. The Scots were edged by Illinois State in both races.

"The 4x1 was a nice surprise," said Haynes. "I thought we should be running down around that time, and it was nice to see us do it."

Monmouth also flashed some dominance in the steeplechase, as senior Zach Barr (Roseville, Ill./Roseville) and freshman Clay Staley (Hanna City, Ill./Illini Bluffs) placed third and fourth with times of 9:21.79 and 9:23.63. Barr’s time is a provisional qualifier, and Staley, competing in his first steeplechase, just missed the provisional time with a performance that broke Barr’s freshman record.

"That sets us up for planning for the rest of the season," said Haynes, who noted that Staley (4:10.99) and Barr (4:14.65) both came back to run strong 1500-meter times with only an hour’s rest. He was also pleased by steeplechasers Seth Leitner (Edelstein, Ill./Dunlap) and Darin VanNattan (Green Valley, Ill./Midwest Central), who also broke the 10-minute mark.

Other athletes who placed in the top eight for the Scots included seniors Kila Cox (Granger, Ind./Hononegah) in the 400-meter dash (1:00.40) and Kel Bond (Dixon, Ill./Dixon) in the 800-meter run (1:54.50), juniors Megan Clennon (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora) in the high jump (5'1), Luke Reschke in the 400-meter dash (49.56) and sophomore Katey Vaccarello (Des Plaines, Ill./Maine West) in the 400-meter hurdles (1:08.65).

Haynes was also impressed by several other performances, noting, "A lot of our supporting cast was pretty strong, and they turned in some marks that will set us up well for the conference meet."

Added Haynes, "Brenda Herrera (Kewanee, Ill./Wethersfield) was really solid in the 100 and 200 (12.84 and 26.29), and Jacquie Ouart (27.17) and Lauren Firchau (27.59) were solid in the 200."

Sophomore Jake Stott (Morris, Ill./Coal City) turned in his first time under 50 seconds in the 400-meter dash, finishing in 49.97, and Daverin added impressive times of 11.06 in the 100-meter dash and 22.30 in the 200-meter dash to his strong relay leg.

Competing collegiately for the first time in the long jump, senior Brad Gross (Galesburg, Ill./Galesburg) and Daverin had quality marks of 20'10 and 20'3-3/4, and Gross was also strong in the 400-meter hurdles (58.81).

Haynes praised both of his 1500-meter groups, including women’s runners Katie Staab (Batavia, Ill./Batavia), Joni Nelson (Little York, Ill./Yorkwood), Amy Aghababian (St. Charles, Ill./Central) and Valerie Daves (Sherrard, Ill./Sherrard) and the men’s quartet of Bond, Aaron Etienne (Elburn, Ill./Kaneland), Staley and Barr. He also mentioned sophomore Ashley Widdop’s time of 16.20 in the 100-meter hurdles.

Monmouth’s throwers did not compete at Drake but did see action the next day at the Lee Calhoun Memorial, hosted by Western Illinois University.

Junior Jen Babos (Leland, Ill./Somonauk) starred for the Scots, placing second in the discus (a provisional mark of 139'11) and adding fifth-place finishes in the hammer (a school-record 140'6) and shot put (39'7-3/4). Her efforts led to an MWC Performer of the Week honor in women’s field events.

Freshman Gloria Lehr (Knoxville, Ill./Knoxville) had an outdoor collegiate PR of 39'4-1/2 in the shot put to place sixth. She also took fifth in the javelin (104'8) and finished seventh in the discus (122'0). Sophomore Tanesha Hughes (Peoria, Ill./Woodruff) placed eighth in the shot (38'2-3/4) and Clennon and junior Cassie Jensen (Monmouth, Ill./Monmouth) placed sixth and seventh in the javelin (101'4 and 97'11).

"That should give us three of the top five javelin marks in the conference," said Haynes.

On the men’s side, junior Zach Wilson (Lacon, Ill./Midland) won the hammer with a provisional- and school-record throw of 176'10, and he was sixth in the shot put (49'1-3/4). Senior Jeff Rebholz (Henry, Ill./Henry) set a PR of 50'8-3/4 in the shot put, which was good for fifth. He was also fifth in the discus (146'7). Senior Alex Stuart (Kirkwood, Ill./Yorkwood) and sophomore Dan Higgins (Oak Lawn, Ill./Oak Lawn) placed second and fifth in the javelin (172'2 and 165'6).

Up next for the Scots is Saturday’s Benedictine Invitational in Lisle.

"The season is rushing by rapidly," said Haynes. "The bad weather has certainly been a factor, and either provisional marks will be lower around the nation this season, or athletes will set their marks very late in the year, making things very unpredictable."

MARTIN, SCOTS HEATING UP

Last week’s golf headline was "Frozen Fore," but now that the weather-numbed linksters are starting to get feeling back in their fingers, their scores are coming down. The poster child for that resurgence is senior Justin Martin (Monmouth, Ill./Warren), who posted rounds of 72 and 74 in the Fighting Scots’ most recent meets.

Martin, who was named the MWC’s Performer of the Week, fired the 72 last Friday at the Millikin Big Blue Classic. The score stood up as fifth-best at the event when the second day was canceled by rain.

He followed that up with a second-place 74 on Monday at the Wedgewood Golf Course in Plainfield, leading the Scots to first place out of 12 teams at a tournament hosted by the University of St. Francis.

Also contributing to Monmouth’s winning total of 308 were senior Doug Middendorf (77), junior Aaron Thiel (78) and senior Lee Radford (79).

At Millikin, the Scots placed ninth out of 22 teams with a 310. Radford (77), Middendorf (80) and senior Nick Harwick (81) rounded out the scoring.

Monmouth is scheduled to compete this weekend at 18-hole events hosted by Beloit on Saturday and Carroll on Sunday.

CARTER, SCOTS STAY HOT

A long weekend trip to the middle of Wisconsin generated the most buzz for the Monmouth tennis team during the past seven days, but it was actually a quick 15-minute journey to Galesburg that had the biggest bearing on the Scots’ season.

In sweeping the top five singles matches, Monmouth did not drop a set, winning each one by the score of 6-2, 6-3 or 6-4. The Scots’ steady level of dominance was similar in doubles, as they swept the three matches by scores of 8-5 or 8-4.

In Wisconsin, the Scots started off behind the eight ball, making the trip without No. 1 singles player Jared Kunkle (Peoria, Ill./Dunlap). But thanks to a trio of 8-6 wins in doubles, Monmouth jumped out to a 3-0 lead against Ripon on Friday and held on for a 6-3 victory. Sophomore Kyle Korb (Quincy, Ill./Quincy) moved up to No. 1 and notched a victory, and other singles winners were seniors Alex Carter (Wilton, Iowa/Wilton) and Brian Jordan (Peoria, Ill./Limestone).

Kunkle’s absence was felt in a 7-2 loss to St. Norbert on Saturday, but Korb gave a valiant effort against Green Knight star Aaron Sunday, playing him tough before falling 6-3, 7-5. Carter won his match at No. 4 singles and teamed with Jordan to win 9-7 at No. 3 doubles.

Against Lawrence, the Scots suffered another casualty, as coach Chad Braun kept the injured Matt Moser (Des Plaines, Ill./Maine West) out of the lineup. That meant Monmouth had to forfeit two matches, but the Scots still prevailed 6-3. Carter and senior Greg Bouslog (Princeton, Ill./Princeton) each moved up two slots to pick up singles wins at Nos. 3 and 4.

In fact, Carter did not lose in any of his eight singles and doubles matches for the week, in the process stretching his singles winning streak to 14. He has now won 49 singles matches at Monmouth.

The Scots take a 13-5 record into action today against St. Ambrose, and they’ll meet Grinnell along with IC on Saturday. The match against the Blueboys starts at 9 a.m.

SCOTS GO 1-4 AT MWC CLASSIC

Although their results at the Midwest Conference Classic were not what they would have hoped, the Fighting Scots softball team can take consolation in two factors.

First, their 1-4 record was nearly 3-2, as the Scots dropped one-run games vs. Ripon (5-4) and Beloit (2-1). Second, the crucial stretch of Monmouth’s season is not the MWC Classic but, rather, their four South Division doubleheaders in eight days, starting Saturday at Lake Forest. The Scots also host Knox on Tuesday and Illinois College two days later before finishing up the regular season April 29 at Grinnell.

In the Scots’ other games at the Classic, they defeated Carroll 6-4 before losing 8-0 to Lawrence and 10-1 to St. Norbert.

The battery of junior catcher Kristin Bickett (Malden, Ill./Princeton) and freshman pitcher Valerie Mitchell (Port Byron, Ill./Riverdale) got Monmouth off to a solid start on Sunday in the win over Carroll. Bickett's two-run single in the bottom of the sixth stretched the Scots' lead to 6-2, and Mitchell survived a shaky seventh, stranding the tying runners on base. Juniors Anna Coutts (Ladd, Ill./Hall) and Emily Willems (Moline, Ill./Rockridge) and freshman Kembra Bell (Beardstown, Ill./Beardstown) each had two hits in the victory.

Sunday ended with a tough loss for the Scots, who led in four of their five games at the Classic. Monmouth held a 3-0 lead after Willems' two-run double in the third, but Ripon rallied off Mitchell when Natalie Geenen hit what proved to be a game-winning two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth.

Earlier on Monday, a seven-run fourth inning, which featured four St. Norbert home runs, broke open a tight game that the Scots actually led thanks to senior Jackie Hennenfent's second-inning RBI single. The Green Knights No. 2 and 3 hitters, Angela Flood and Lauren Marciano, fueled a 13-hit attack by going a combined 6-for-6.

Lawrence's Catherine Marinac was dominant in Monmouth’s other loss, as only a one-out single in the fifth by Hennenfent prevented a no-hitter in the six-inning contest. The Scots had only three baserunners, with the other two coming in the second on an error and a walk.

For the five-game span, Coutts and Willems both had six hits. The Scots are now 6-15 on the year.