IMSA's home game against Somonauk on Friday was delayed for an hour because of field conditions, but pitchers Shayne Peterson of the Bobcats and John Wayne of the Titans moved the game along quickly once it began.
The two hurlers locked horns for five innings and combined to allow only five hits, but Wayne tired in the sixth as the Bobcats bats came alive to score three runs. The floodgates opened wide in the last inning as Somonauk defeated the Titans 12-0.
Wayne hit a batter and committed a balk in the fourth inning, but struck out Brian Decker with two outs and two runners in scoring position to end the threat.
Peterson struck out eight Titans, four of them looking, and allowed only one runner as far as second base through five.
"I was keeping my pitches low and making sure that if they hit it, they would only hit ground balls," Wayne said. "I was hitting my spots really well. In the bottom of the fifth, on the bench, I started to feel my arm go out a little bit."
It showed in the top of the sixth as Wayne plunked two batters. Sandwiched between those, Peterson had a bunt single and Jeremy Schmitt reached on an error to plate the first Somonauk run. Danny Lorenzini followed with a solid hit to left to drive home two more.
"I had two strikes on me and knew I had to do something with it, so I shortened my swing up, moved up in the box and did what I needed to do and got the RBIs," Lorenzini said. "That was a key for us. One guy gets a couple runs in and we don't stop. It's contagious."
Trevor Hahm relieved Wayne and put out the Bobcats fire to end the sixth, but Somonauk sent 14 hitters to the dish in the seventh to put things out of reach.
Peterson had a deep triple to drive in two. Schmitt and Brock Kartheiser followed with RBI hits. Pinch-hitter Zack McQuate drilled a double to score two more and Derek Morsch added to the parade by doubling in another. Somonauk ended with nine runs on seven hits in the frame.
Peterson's pitching line was impressive. He allowed only three hits and struck out 10 Titans. He faced only 25 batters and threw 88 pitches in the complete game.
"I just go out there and try to throw strikes and I have the greatest confidence in our defense," Peterson said. "I throw the ball over the plate and let them hit it and our defense will make our plays. This (10 strikeouts) is unusual. The last time I only had three in 6 2/3."
Somonauk are now 9-1, and the Titans are 1-5. Baseball
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