Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 PALATINE, IL-  The Harper College baseball team hosted Elgin Community College for a double header on Tuesday.  After falling 5-2 in game one, the Hawks bounced back with a 10 inning walk-off victory in game two.

GAME 1

The Hawks found themselves in an early hole in game one as they gave up a run to the Spartans in the top of the first inning.  Pitcher Justin Meyer (/Buffalo Grove) was able to limit the damage with a strikeout and a groundout, stranding the runner at second.  The Harper offense would respond in the bottom of the inning after Matt Paprzycki (/Plainfield South) walked to lead off the inning.  After a Danny Schneberger (/Palatine) double, Josh Caceres (/Simeon) drove in Paprzycki with a groundout to second.  Michael Woods (/Elk Grove) would follow Caceres with an RBI groundout of his own, giving the Hawks an early 2-1 lead.

Meyer looked to once again wiggle out of danger after back to back hits put runners on first and third with nobody out.  Meyer would induce a groundball to Woods at third base, who alertly caught the runner at home for the out.  After a flyout to right, the Spartans would break through against Meyer with an RBI single to tie the game at 2.  Elgin would score two more in the top of the 3rd for a 4-2 lead.  The Hawk offense struggled for the remaining innings, going down in order in three of them.  Elgin would add one more in the top of the 7th, downing the Hawks 5-2.

Harper only managed two hits in the game, both coming in the first inning.  Justin Meyer (/Buffalo Grove) threw all 7 innings for the Hawks and gave up 5 runs while he struck out 4.

GAME 2

Neither team had much offense going early in game two but Elgin was able to scrape together a run with two outs in the second inning.  After a Spartan single, the runner then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch.  Two pitches later, another wild pitch would allow the run to score for a 1-0 Elgin lead.  The Spartans would add one more in the top of the fourth before the Harper offense came together in the bottom of the inning.

Michael Woods (/Elk Grove) drove a one out single up the middle and Ryan Roberts (/Conant High School) followed with a hard hit two base error on the Elgin first baseman, putting runners and second and third with one out.  Woods would score on a wild pitch and Tim Fauth (/Conant) tied the game with a sacrifice fly, scoring Roberts.  Harper would then put together a two-out rally started by Troy Tucci (/Guerin College Prep)'s single up the middle.  The Spartans then got sloppy when they made two errors on an Isaiah Rivera (/Maine West) groundball, allowing Tucci to score and putting the Hawks up 3-2 heading into the fifth inning.

Elgin would bounce back in the top of the sixth, capitalizing on a Harper error to tie the game at 3.  Both teams would trade scoreless innings through the 9th inning.  In the top of the 10th, Elgin had runners at first at second but Ryan Smith (/Michigan City High School, IN) was able to get the last out on a pop out to short.  Matt Paprzycki (/Plainfield South) led off the bottom of the inning with a single, and after Danny Schneberger (/Palatine) sacrificed him to second, Elgin elected to intentionally walk the next two hiters and load the bases for Roberts with one out.  Roberts would work the count to 2-1 before hitting what appeared to be an inning-ending double play, but Roberts hustled down the line to beat the relay to first to give the Hawks the walk-off victory.

Matt Johnson (/Hersey) threw the first 9 innings, giving up only one earned run while striking out 5.  Ryan Smith (/Michigan City High School, IN) got the win in relief after throwing a scoreless 10th inning.  Josh Caceres (/Simeon) led the Harper offense, going 2-4.

With the split, the Hawks move to 11-26 on the season.  The next game will be Thursday when the Hawks host Waubonsee for a doubleheader.  First pitch is scheduled for 2pm.