Horizon League roundup Friday’s tournament games

UIC 7, Milwaukee 5

NILES — Wisconsin-Milwaukee (23-35) couldn’t hold onto a 5-0 lead over defending Horizon League champion Illinois-Chicago as the Flames (33-19) scored seven unanswered runs to pull out the win and head to the Horizon League tournament’s championship game for the third straight year. Brett Schaefer had three hits including a pair of home runs and three RBIs to lead the Flames’ comeback rally. Brandon Harwell also had three hits and Rafael Garcia added a pair of hits. Shawn Wozxniak led the Panthers with three hits. Milwaukee will play No. 6 seed Valparaiso today at 11 a.m. in the loser bracket finals with the winner meeting UIC for the title at 3 p.m. Single-day tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for senior citizens and youth. Students from all Horizon League institutions are free with a valid student identification card. Gates will open one hour prior to the first game.

Valparaiso 13, Wright State 4

NILES — Valparaiso (21-34) eliminated Wright State (30-23) from the Horizon League baseball tournament and advanced to the semifinals of the loser’s bracket. It will play Illinois-Chicago/Wisconsin-Milwaukee at 11 a.m. today. Valpo starter Bryce Shafer worked eight innings and picked up his third win. The freshman right-hander struck out three and scattered nine hits. Wright State junior Rylan Ostrosky took the loss to finish the year 3-3. Ostrosky worked three innings and allowed four earned runs. The Crusaders’ 1-2-3 hitters combined to go 9-for-14 with eight RBIs. Sophomore Brett Bivens had four hits and drove in three runs, while senior Zach Rodeghero went 2-for-5 with a game-high five RBIs. Rodeghero leads the team with 54 RBIs. Wright State got on the board in the bottom half of the first inning as it plated three runs on four hits. Junior Jeff Mercer and senior Ross Vagedes each drove in runs in the inning and sophomore R.J. Gundolff scored on a wild pitch in the frame. Mercer’s RBI was his 53rd of the season. Following the Raiders three-run first inning, Shafer would hold the Raiders scoreless for the next four innings. Ostrosky cruised through the first two innings before allowing a run in the third inning. The WSU starter’s day ended in the fourth when he loaded the bases with no outs. Valpo would then tack on seven runs in the frame, three of which were charged to Ostrosky and four were charged to senior reliever Scott Ruthven.

Wright State 7, Cleveland State 4

NILES —Wright State eliminated CSU (22-31) from the tournament in Friday’s first game. Wright State starter Jon Durket (7-2) worked 8 1/3 innings, striking out six and allowing four earned runs to get the win. Sophomore Greg Robinson came on in the ninth to pick up his third save of the year. Cleveland State junior Dylan Henry (0-5) got the loss, allowing three earned runs over 4 1/3 innings. The Raiders’ 3-4-5 hitters combined to go 6-for-10 and drove in five runs. Juniors Jeff Mercer and Justin Parker each collected a pair of RBIs. Parker also hit his first triple on the year. Wright State out-hit Cleveland State 12-10. In two tournament games, the Raiders have a team batting average of .357.