Conference play got off to a rough start for the Scouts this week as they were swept by the Mundelein Mustangs on Monday and Tuesday, 5-3 and 8-3 respectively.

In Game 1, junior Michael Vallone pitched a masterpiece of a ballgame, going five scoreless innings only giving up two hits, both by Mundelein shortstop Andrew Schroeder. He struck out four batters, and only walked two.

The Scouts got two runs in the fourth inning. The rally started when Colton Pfeifer reached on a dropped third strike, followed by back to back walks to juniors Luke Chlystek and Connor Morrison. Will Davis drove in courtesy runner Landen Messner after first baseman Justin Binz booted a ground ball to give the Scouts a 1-0 lead. The next hitter, Matthew Birtman, grounded out to the pitcher to score Chlystek and give the Scouts a 2-0 lead.

However, the Scouts lost the lead in the top of the 6th, as the Scouts defense committed two errors, and Mundelein scored three runs on an error by Luke Nolan, a double play, and a wild pitch uncorked by Breck Nowik.

The Scouts did get a run back in the bottom half, as they loaded the bases again on a walk, a single, and a hit by a pitch. Birtman would drive in Chlystek with a fielder’s choice to tie the score at 3.

The score however did not stand, as Mundelein once again took advantage of a Scouts error and scored two runs when T.J. Yakimisky singled in two runs. Yakimisky then recorded the final three outs in the bottom of the 7th to claim the save and give Mundelein the victory.

The loss dropped the Scouts record to 5-2 overall and 0-1 in conference.

In Game 2, Peter Turelli took the ball looking to get the Scouts back on the right track. However, it was Mundelein starter Rahul Champaneri who dominated over the first four innings, surrendering only a Colton Pfeifer single in the second inning, and striking out three in the process.

Mundelein got three runs early off Turelli, scoring two in the first which was set up by a pair of Scouts errors, but in the fifth inning, the Scouts rallied as Champaneri struggled with his command and walked the first two hitters.

The Scouts would capitalize as Will Davis hit a sacrifice fly after Colin Lochiatto reached on a fielder’s choice, where Yakimisky missed the tag on an advancing Luke Nolan to third base.

After Birtman popped out, a passed ball scored Chlystek, and then after Brady Christoph walked, Turelli helped his own cause with an opposite field, 2 strike, 2 out, RBI single to tie the game at 3.

But the score didn’t last for long, as Mundelein scored three in the bottom half of the inning, as after reliever Connor Morrison walked Christian Diaz, the Scouts had him picked off, but Lochiatto’s throw went into left field, allowing Diaz to advance to third, but Chlystek’s throw got away from Turelli, who was now playing third base, and Diaz scored the go-ahead run.

The inning was finished off when Austin Greco hit a two run homer to left-center to give Mundelein a 6-3 lead. The Mustangs got two more in the sixth off Ryan Antrim and held on to win 8-3.

The loss dropped the Scouts overall record to 5-3 and 0-2 in conference. Their next game is today at West Campus in the make-up game from March 20th against Hersey. Their next conference battle is at Lake Zurich next Monday April 8th. Go Scouts!