February 26, 2018 - The Kishwaukee Men's Baseball team began the 2018 season by travelling to Springfield, Illinois to play Lincoln Land College in a four game weekend series over three days finishing with a 2 -2 record. In game one on Friday afternoon, the Kougars lost a tough one and the lead late in the game 6-5. Lincoln Land trailed 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning when Andy Lopez tripled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring two runs. Dominic Erlinger earned the victory on the pitcher's mound for Lincoln Land. He lasted one and two-thirds innings, allowing one hit and one run while striking out one and walking zero. Jake Perkins took the loss for the Kishwaukee College Kougars. He surrendered three runs on four hits over one inning, walking zero. Marc Soto started the game for Kish. He surrendered two runs on five hits over five innings, striking out three and walking zero. The Kougars tallied nine hits in the game. Jonah Artilles and Joey Locascio all collected multiple hits. Artilles went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead the team in Game One Kishwaukee also did not commit a single error in the field. Tavaris Terrell had six chances in the field, the most on the team.
Kishwaukee bounced back in game two on Saturday clinching the lead late in the ninth to take a 10-7 victory. The game was tied at seven with Kishwaukee batting in the top of the ninth when Kevin Cherestal doubled on a 0-1 count, scoring three runs. Lincoln Land scored four runs in the first inning, but the Kougars managed to persevere to pull out the victory. Kishwaukee evened things up 7-7 in the top of the eight scoring five runs started by a David Villafane single on a 1-1 count, scoring one run. The runs continued as Dylan Smith, Artiles and Cherestal joining Villafane with runs driven in during the frame. Evan Sutta earned the win for the Kougars . He surrendered two runs on four hits over three and two-thirds innings, striking out three and walking one. Trevor Sanchez threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen. Sanchez recorded the last three outs to earn the save. Alejandro Vieiro started the game for Kishwaukee. He lasted four and a third innings, allowing three hits and five runs while striking out five. The Kish staff scattered ten hits overall in the game. Cherestal, Smith, Villafane and Gianmarco Marcelletti all collected multiple hits as well. Marcelletti, Villafane, Smith and Cherestal also each managed two hits to lead the Kougars to the victory.
The final two games were played on Sunday with Kishwaukee falling to Lincoln Land in game three after a sixth inning score. The Kougars stayed in it until the end, but Lincoln Land pulled away after being down 7-6 in the bottom of the sixth inning when Dalton Fletcher tripled on a 1-1 count, scoring three runs and culminating in a 10-7 win. Kish collected seven hits and Lincoln Land had ten in the high-scoring affair. The Kougars tallied three runs in the third inning. Matthew Morgan and Kevin Cherestal each had RBIs in the frame. Ben Johnson led Lincoln Land to victory on the pitcher's mound. He surrendered one run on one hit over three innings, striking out one and walking zero. John Stathopulos took the loss for the Kougars. He surrendered four runs on two hits over one inning, striking out one and walking zero. Julian Hidalgo started the game for Kish. He went five innings, allowing six runs on eight hits and striking out one. Gianmarco Marcelletti, Tommy Hansen, Matthew Morgan, David Villafane, Alex Soto, Cherestal and Jonah Artilles each collected one hit to lead the hitting for the Kougars. Kishwaukee nabbed the win in the game four finale despite an early 3-run deficit by Lincoln Land. The Kougars survived a scare by Lincoln Land in the third inning where Kish coughed up three runs but still won 8-5. Kishwaukee got things moving in the second inning, when Gianmarco Marcelletti singled on a 1-2 count, scoring two runs. The Kougars tallied three more runs in the sixth with singles by Joey Locascio and by Kevin Cherestal. Matt Almeida was credited with the victory for Kishwaukee as he allowed six hits and five runs over five innings, striking out four. Trevor Sanchez threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen. Sanchez recorded the last six outs to earn another save for Kish. Austin Chapman took the loss for Lincoln Land. He went four innings, allowing five runs on seven hits and striking out four. Locascio led the Kougars with three hits in four at bats.
The Kougars will try to play, weather permitting, at Elgin Community College later this week before heading on a southern trip where they will play March 7-14 against Frederick CC, Minnesota West Technical College, Oakton CC, Lakeland CC, Brookdale CC and Rowan College before returning home to Illinois for their Region IV schedule and competing against their Arrowhead conference rivals.