Zink's Gem Puts UIC in Horizon League Baseball Championship Round

May 27, 2005

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Ryan Zink threw a complete-game, four-hitter Friday night to lead top-seed University of Illinois at Chicago past second-seed Youngstown State University 4-0 and into Saturday's championship round of the 2005 Horizon League Baseball Championship at Victory Field.


The regular-season champion Flames (37-18-1), who have won eight in a row and 14 of their last 15, will be aiming for their second tournament title in three years. Their opponent will be the winner of Saturday's opener between Youngstown State and third-seed University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, who each would have to defeat UIC twice to take home the title.


Zink wasn't dominating but was in command throughout, throwing just 104 pitches and giving up only four singles. In fact, he allowed a mere two baserunners after the fourth on a hit in the eighth and his lone walk of the night in the ninth.


Mike Bruszer two-run bases-loaded double in the bottom of the fourth inning capped a two-out rally and provided the Flames all the scoring they needed. With two outs, Ted Rosinski singled and YSU starter Eric Shaffer (4-8) walked the bases loaded, setting up Bruszer's base knock.


UIC added two more runs in the eighth on an RBI single by Bart Babineaux and a sacrifice bunt by Bryan Nolte with runners on second and third.


Shaffer allowed nine hits and three earned runs in 7 1/3 innings with two strikeouts for Youngstown State (29-26), the defending tournament champion.


Zink set a school record for innings pitched in a season with 110.2, breaking a mark that had stood since 1976.


Babineaux and Mark Hallberg had two hits apiece for UIC, which outhit the Penguins 9-4..


Saturday's consolation final between Youngstown State and UW-Milwaukee will start at 11 a.m. Indianapolis local time, followed by the winner against UIC at 3 p.m. If the Flames lose, the teams in the championship game will meet again Sunday at noon in a winner-take-all final.

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WP-Ryan Zink (8-5)LP-Eric Shaffer (4-8)Time-2:16