Blue Knights Sweep Capital
Lindquist and Chambers bat big in game one; pitchers duel in game two
XENIA, Ohio (March 17, 2008) – The Blue Knight baseball squad fought the elements and Capital University, and came away with two wins, 4-3 and 3-1, over the Crusaders in twilight games at the brand new Athletes in Action Stadium.

The stadium features FieldTurf and lights, which allowed the two teams to battle out the double header until well after midnight, through temperatures that dipped into the 30s, and a little bit of sleet and rain.

In game one, Capital jumped to a 2-0 lead in the second inning. The Blue Knights clawed back to tie it two innings later. Junior Russ Chambers got things rolling for a Urbana with a monster solo homerun over the left field fence, despite a fierce crosswind blowing into the stadium. Sophomore Matt Murphy scored the tying run in the bottom of the third. The Crusaders gained the lead in the fourth, only to see Urbana come back and tie it again in the fifth. Senior Jeff Hartwig hit a two-out single to center field, stole a base and then junior John Lindquist doubled to plate the equalizing run. Lindquist, who went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI, came up big again in the bottom of the seventh. Sophomore Kris Nealeigh got the inning started with a single lined to center field. Andrew Harrell put down a sacrifice bunt that advanced him to second. Hartwig was intentionally walked. Lindquist stepped up and delivered his second double of the game, this one a walk-off bash to right field. Senior Brock Bender (1-1) earned the win on the mound for Urbana.

While the first game featured 18 hits, including six extra base knocks, the nightcap was a duel of the pitchers. Each team’s pitching staff gave up just two hits. Junior Jaeson Hudnall (3-1) struck out four on his way to victory, while sophomore Cody Lawhorn struck out two in relief to pick up the save. As the visiting team this time around, the Blue Knights put the first run on the board. Junior Steve Froese raced home after Lindquist hit a two-out pop fly way above third baseman, who lost the ball in the lights. The Crusaders scored their lone run in the bottom of the third. Urbana answered with two runs in the fourth, which proved to be the difference. Harrell had an RBI double, and Lindquist picked up an RBI after being walked with the bases loaded. With the game-tying run at the plate, Lawhorn got James to ground out to Randy Harrell for the final out of the game, which came at 12:36 a.m.

Urbana (6-6) is slated to host Notre Dame College this Saturday, March 18 at 1 p.m. in its American Mideast Conference opener.

[Back to Urbana University Baseball]