Illinois-Chicago reliever comes through in clutch
David Haehnel fanned the league's player of the year with the game on the line.
By KURT SNYDER
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
NILES -- UW-Milwaukee had one comeback in Thursday's Horizon League quarterfinal against top-seeded Illinois-Chicago, but Flames' junior left-hander David Haehnel made sure the Panthers did not have a second one.
With the bases loaded and his team ahead by four runs in the top of the ninth inning, Haehnel struck out Horizon League player-of-the-year Ben Stanczyk, looking on a 3-2 pitch across the inside corner. Then after a passed ball brought in a run, Haehnel finished the game with a strikeout of pinch-hitter Nicholas Wichser to give the Flames a 9-6 win.
The Flames will play at 12:30 p.m. Saturday against the winner of today's Youngstown State-Cleveland State game.
"He was diving out over the plate, so I knew the inside corner was his hole," Haehnel said of Stanczyk. "I knew if I hit that spot, it would be a tough pitch for him to get to."
Haehnel pitched the final 22/3 innings to pick up his fourth save of the season. He also has won six games and made 12 starts, but Illinois-Chicago coach Mike Dee said Haehnel will be relieving all weekend.
Enjoys the challenge
Haehnel said he does not mind the responsibility.
"[Dee] had told me if the game was going to be on the line, it was going to be my game," Haehnel said. "I look forward to that. I enjoy challenges."
Illinois-Chicago scored five runs in the first inning to knock out Milwaukee starter Korey Keller. The inning was highlighted by a three-run homer to right by senior left fielder Mike Hughes. Hughes leads the Flames with 13 home runs and 60 RBIs.
But Milwaukee fought back to eventually tie the game in the top of the fifth on a two-run homer down the right-field line by sophomore right fielder Joe Nowicki off Flames' starter Ryan Zink.
But Zink still picked up his ninth win as the Flames regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single up the middle by senior catcher Nelson Gord, who led the Flames with three hits.
UIC scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a four-run lead into the ninth. Senior shortstop Jordan DeVoir drove in two runs in the inning with a single to left.
Panthers' reliever Robert Michalkiewicz gave up two runs on 62/3 innings and was charged with his sixth loss.
The Panthers had chances to rally during the middle of the game, but Zink and Haehnel combined to induce four double plays over a five-inning stretch.
ksnyder@vindy.com