Bukovac Delivers Two Hits, Four RBIs, Tigers Break Open Game In Sixth with Six Runs, Wins Over Parkway South 9-3

EDWARDSVILLE - Nathan Bukovac led the way with two hits and four key RBIs, including the biggest two in the sixth as the Tigers broke the game open in the home half of the inning by scoring six runs in defeating Parkway South of Manchester, Mo., in west St. Louis County, 9-3 in a game played Saturday morning at Tom Pile Field.

The game was originally set for Parkway South's grounds, but was moved to Edwardsville this week. Tigers coach Tim Funkhouser was very happy to see the bats come alive in the inning to break open what had been a very close game.

"Our guys really practice hard," said Funkhouser. "I love being around them each day, and for us to get rewarded with a win was very good. Parkway South made it to the Final Four last year in Missouri (Class 6) and got third place. I thought we pitched really well against them, and gave ourselves a great chance, and continued to have at-bats.

"I wouldn't say we're hitting the ball that well, but that inning worked out for us; we just kept fighting, and that's what you want to do. Just keep going out there and playing the proverbial hard seven for high school baseball, just like Tony LaRussa used to say, a hard nine, and see where it takes you. That was a good win for us."

It was Bukovac's two-run single in the sixth that broke the game open for the Tigers, and it was a big contribution by the junior since coming back from injury.

"He had been out for the last couple of weeks, with an injury," Funkhouser said. "He came back this week, and it was good to see him get back in. And felt like right before his injury, he was really starting to get into rhythm at the plate, so that was a little setback for him to be out, and also to miss out on his reps, and continued development at that point.

"But it's good to see that he's starting to get back to where he was finishing before, or at least being able to put some swings on some balls. We're going to continue to need to look forward to good things from him, and the rest of our guys."

The pitching was also excellent, with Tyson Wampler starting the game, and Jax Andreas picking up the win in relief, going four innings and doing well.

"I thought our pitchers did a great job of competing," Funkhouser said. "It was the first time for Wampler out there. I thought Jax was outstanding today. That was the best he's thrown all year, and we needed that. I think all our guys really understood that we need that out of them, and that was the impressive part, that our guys went out there with confidence, and the will of hey, I'm going to go out and see what I can do today. Especially since some of those pitchers haven't thrown in a couple of weeks in competition.

"They keep practicing on the side, and it takes a lot to still do your work on the side, do your work in practice, and then be called upon. It's a little easier for the guy that's being called upon every six days or so, but for the guy who hasn't thrown in a couple of weeks, just like the same thing with at-bats, it's tougher from that standpoint. But it was good to see them have success."

It's back to the Southwestern Conference grind this coming week for the Tigers, with a two-game set against Belleville East Tuesday and Thursday, plus an addition to the schedule on Friday, when Edwardsville hosts East Peoria. But first things first.

"We'll really enjoy some rest this weekend," Funkhouser said, "being off, having Parkway South coming over to our place, and we had a late night over. Johnny Logan hosted us for the McCracken game, but then, to be back in action today was good. But it'll also be good to get some downtime, and then get a good practice in and be ready for a couple of conference games, as well, as we added on Friday, East Peoria's going to come down and play us here at 4:15 next week. So, that'll be good to be able to get in three games, and see what we're made of."

The Patriots got on the board first in the opening inning when, with one out, Jordan Schneider doubled to right, Jacob Hurst drew a walk, and an infield single by Wyatt Simmons loaded the bases for Caleb Cannes, who grounded out to second, but brought in Schneider to give South a 1-0 edge. The Tigers countered in the home half, starting with a one-out double by Hunter Baugh, who went to third on a Jack Kirgan grounder back to the box, and Wampler singling home Baugh to tie the game 1-1. Joel Fields drew a walk, and Bukovac doubled home courtesy runner Ty Hunt and Fields to give Edwardsville the lead for good at 3-1.

Andreas came on in the second inning and pitched four very effective innings to keep the Patriots at bay, with the Tigers unable to expand on their lead during that time, as Schneider was also pitching well after the first inning. South came to within 3-2 in the top of the sixth, starting with a lead-off walk to Tyler Shanfeld, who went to second when pinch hitter Brendan Bast reached on an error by the pitcher. Both runners were sacrificed to second and third on a good bunt by Carter Holmdahl, with Shanfeld scoring and Bast going to third on a sacrifice fly to right by Evan Bacon to cut the Edwardsville lead to 3-2.

The Tigers broke things open in the bottom of the sixth, starting with a lead-off walk to Kirgan, Wampler being hit by a pitch, and an infield bunt single down the third base line by Fields to load the bases. Wampler singled home Kirgan and Fields to make it 5-2, with Fields going to third, and Bukovac taking second on the throw to the plate, with Nolan Vojak reaching on an error by the shortstop, which allowed Fields to score and Bukovac to go to third to make it 6-2. One out later, a successful squeeze bunt by Zane Maxwell scored Bukovac, with Vojak going to second to up the advantage to 7-2. Andrew McCutchen reached on an error by the second baseman to score Vojak. McCutchen stole second and scored on an RBI single by Baugh to make the score 9-2 before the inning ended.

In the Parkway South seventh, a one-out triple by Jacob Hurst, and a walk to Simmons put runners on the corners, where Hurst scored on a wild pitch to make it 9-3, but it would be as close as South would get, as the Tigers slammed the door and won the game.

Baugh wound up with three hits and an RBI for the Tigers, while Bukovac had his two hits and four RBIs, Wampler wound up with a hit and an RBI, Fields and Sutton Leas had a hit apiece, and both Vojak and Maxwell had an RBI each. Wampler started on the mound and allowed an earned run on two hits, walking one and striking out two. Andreas pitched four innings and wound up being credited with the win, allowing only three hits, walking one and fanning two, Calyx Wise threw in the sixth inning, conceding an unearned run on a hit, walking and striking out none, and Brennan Hampton pitched the seventh, allowing an earned run on one hit, walking one and fanning two.

The Patriots are now 8-13, while the Tigers go to 11-8, and play the Lancers Tuesday and Thursday in a SWC series, Tuesday at Tom Pile Field, and Thursday at East, with both games starting at 4:30 p.m. Edwardsville then plays at home on Friday against East Peoria in a 4:15 p.m. start.

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