WAUWATOSA, WI (May 2, 2018) - After a stretch of twelve games in nine days, the Bryant & Stratton College Bobcats hosted the Prairie State College Pioneers at home on Tuesday, May 1 where they suffered two losses 15-12 in game one and 10-6 in game two. Bryant & Stratton held a one-run lead going into the top of the seventh but a late-push by the Pioneers forced a series sweep on the Bobcats.

05/02 - Game One vs Prairie State College (L 15-12)

Despite a two-run inning by the Pioneers in the top of the first, the Bobcats came out swinging after lead-off hitter, Malik Hill, reached first on an error. Following Hill, Dominick Meyer stepped up to the plate and singled to left which advanced Hill to second.

In the third spot, David Paleo singled on a ground ball to left field to load the bases up for power hitter, Kyle Taran. With bases loaded and zero outs, Taran brought in two runs after a single to right field. 

With the score tied 2-2 and runners on first and third, the Pioneers captured an out after picking off Taran at first. With one out, Keanu Walkush tripled to right field to bring in Paleo and take the lead 3-2. 

Next up came Alex Sadowski who walked to bring up Ricky Rank with runners on first and third. Rank doubled to bring in two more runs and the Bobcats led 5-2 going into the top of the second. 

Responding to the Bobcats hot bats, the Pioneers tacked on three runs in the top of the inning to tie the game at 5 a-piece. 

A back-and-forth battle the remainder of the game as the Bobcats scored one run in the second and one run in the third while the Pioneers tacked on one run in the third.

A 7-6 lead in the top of the fourth for the Bobcats, the Pioneers retaliated with a six-run inning to regain the lead at 12-7.

After a scoreless fourth inning for the Bobcats, the Pioneers tacked on one more run in the top of the fifth before the Bobcats brought in five runs in the bottom of the inning. 

Trailing the Pioneers 13-12, the Bobcats let up two more runs in the top of the seventh and were not able to recover in the bottom of the inning. 

"With thirteen players that are currently healthy, we have been asking for a lot of out those players the last couple weeks," Bobcats head coach Mike Zolecki said. "Our guys are physically banged up but still giving everything they have on the field."

Taran (1B) led the way for the Bobcats going three for 5 with four RBI's followed by Walkush going two for 5 with one RBI and two runs. 

Starting Pitcher, Isaiah Tapiz threw four innings giving up 14 hits, six earned runs and one strike out. 

The Bobcats had a total of 12 hits. 

05/02 - Game Two vs Prairie State College (L 10-6)

After a tough battle by both teams in game one, it was the Pioneers who struck first in game two taking an early lead on the Bobcats 5-2 going into the bottom of the fifth.

Getting things rolling for the Bobcats was Paleo reaching first on an error by the Pioneer's shortstop. Following Paleo, Taran and Walkush both walked to load the bases up for Rank who brought in an run after reaching first on an error by the Pioneer third baseman. 

With the bases still loaded, Alex Sadowski flew out on a fly ball to left field for a sacrifice fly to bring in Taran from third. With runners on first and second, Tyler Tissot came to the plate to walked on five pitches amd load the bases up again. 

With a 3-1 count, Tapiz flew out to center field for a sacrifice fly to bring in Walkush from third and make it a 5-5 ball game. Up next was the lead-off hitter, Malik Hill, who walked to load up the bases for the Bryant & Stratton yet again but the Bobcats were unable to capatilize after a ground ball by Meyer leading to a fielders choice. 

After a three run inning, the Bobcats felt momentum on their side tacking on one run in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead 6-5 and just three outs away from a victory. 

Withstanding the pressure, the Pioneers erupted on the Bobcats in the top of the seventh scoring five runs and ran away with a 10-6 victory.

Walkush led the way for the Bobcats going one for three at the plate with two runs.

Walkush (P) threw 6.1 innings giving up 11 hits, seven runs and four strikeouts. 

A rough patch of games for the Bobcats pitching staff as they have had to throw with limited rest due to early season weather problems.

"We have asked our pitchers to come back on short notice to give us a couple innings," Zolecki said. "The guys have worked through injuries and set backs which can only help build a solid foundation for the program. We have taken our lumps this year but we know that this will help the program be successful in the future."

Up next for the Bobcats are two road series against region iv programs. 

"Our last two series are against top teams in our region and these games will give our guys a good idea of where this program wants to be," Zolecki said.

The Bobcats will square off against Kankakee Community College on Friday with the first game beginning at 2:00pm. On Saturday, May 5 the Bobcats will compete at McHenry County College with the first pitch thrown at 12:00pm. 

Follow Bobcats Baseball - News l Facebook l Twitter