For seven innings, the Chesterton baseball team matched No. 1 ranked Crown Point pitch for pitch.

In the eighth, the Trojans reverted back to the form that has hurt them time and time again and dropped a 4-0 Duneland Athletic Conference decision.

“It was a good ballgame for seven innings,” Chesterton coach Jack Campbell said. “We made a couple of mistakes and they capitalized on them.”

The Bulldogs got a bloop double from Beau LaSalle down the right field line to start the eighth inning and he moved to third on an errant pickoff attempt and eventually scored on a wild pitch.

After a strikeout by Chesterton pitcher Jordan Peterson, Joe Hopman reached on an error and moved to third on a double by Josh Negele. After an intentional walk to Scott Donley loaded the bases, Jeff Limbaugh’s sacrifice fly made it 2-0.

A two-run single by Jose Andrade pushed the score to 4-0.

Negele, the CP starter, struck out the side in the eighth to secure the win. On the night, he allowed just one hit and struck out 13.

“I’m not sure we’d have ever scored tonight,” Campbell said.

Crown Point had the first chance to score in the game in the second inning when Andrade, Jake Lindeman and Colin Casey all singled to start the frame.

Peterson then struck out LaSalle, got a pop up from Mike Manion and struck out Joe Hopman to get out of the jam.

“Jordan pitched great,” Campbell said. “He got himself out of a jam early on and his curve ball was great tonight. He’s pitched like this a couple of times now and we just haven’t been able to score for him.”

The Trojans got their first of three baserunners in the second inning. All three would get picked off first.

“We didn’t put the ball in play and when we got someone on base, they got picked off,” Campbell said. “That happens when you have a play on or something, but we didn’t.

“Our rule is you don’t take your crow-hop until you see the ball. If you take it early, you risk getting picked off. I don’t care how good his move is, there’s no excuse for that.”

Negele retired the last 11 batters he faced including seven strikeouts to get the win.

SCORING BY INNINGS

Crown Point 000 000 04 – 4 7 0

Chesterton 000 000 00 – 0 1 2

2B – Beau LaSalle, Josh Negele (CP). Pitching Summary – Crown Point – Josh Negele (8 IP, 1 H, 13 K, 2 BB); Chesterton – Jordan Peterson (8 IP, 7 H, 8 K, 2 BB). WP – Negele. LP – Peterson.

Posted 5/11/2010