An ambitious out-of-region schedule came to a successful end Saturday as the Chaps split their doubleheader against host Kirkwood Community College.
 
After the Chaps took a hard-luck 15-14 loss in the opener, they bounced back in a sound 6-2 victory. They take a 3-6 overall record into Tuesday's doubleheader at College of Lake County (1-4 overall). The Chaps make their home opener Friday against Bay (Mich.) College.
 
Game 1: Kirkwood 15, Chaps 14
Seth Borden's third-inning grand slam capped a four-run inning, but Kirkwood overcame a 13-8 deficit in the fifth and held on for the victory. Cliff Vickers and Jimmy Heintz each had three hits and Borden and Steven Salvino had two hits apiece. On the mound, starter Mike Sullivan gave up six earned runs in an 1 1/3 innings. Sullivan and Borden, who came on in relief in the fifth, struck out two each.
 
Game 2: Chaps 6, Kirkwood 2
Borden connected on his second home run of the day and fourth of the season in the fourth, and the Chaps took control with a four-run fifth for the victory. Tied at 2-2 after four innings, the Chaps sent 10 batters to the plate and it paid off with a four-run, three-hit inning. Nolan Pomatto and Cliff Vickers each drove in a run, and Cam Bailey walked with the bases loaded. Jack Oberli then drove in Borden (hit by pitch) and the Chaps led 6-2. Frankie Klemm threw five inning and earned the victory, striking out four, and allowing two runs (one earned).  Reliever Ben Steiner gave up just two hits in two innings for the save.
 
Coach says
"We got better as a team by competing with one of the top teams in the Midwest,'' head coach Bobby Wilson said. "Kirkwood is a very good baseball team. We competed with them all weekend long. We pushed some runs across early in our win. We absolutely battled in this series and we were able to finally string some hits together and push some runs across."