Akron, Ohio - Coach Brad Ganor's varsity baseball Wildcats score all five of their runs in the first two innings and junior left-hander Nick Margevicius throws a five-hit complete game as the Wildcats, winners of five of their last seven games, improve to 5-4.

Up next for the 'Cats is a trip to Westlake on Tuesday for a match up under the lights with the Demons. Junior right-hander Nick Fabian will be on the mound. The first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. En route to its Division I state runner-up finish in 2012, Westlake defeated Saint Ignatius in the regional semifinals. Senior John Fanta will have the call over the SIBN Tuesday night, as John returns to the site of his first broadcast for Saint Ignatius.

*The Wildcats freshmen defeat SVSM, 10-0, and improve to 3-1. Right-hander Brian Russell throws a two-hitter and Jack Cook (a triple and three runs batted in) and Dennis Grosel (a triple and two RBI) help fuel the offense.

Here is the varsity game story.

Shortly after his Wildcats defeated the Fighting Irish from St. Vincent-St. Mary, 5-1, in Patterson Park early Monday evening, Saint Ignatius head baseball coach Brad Ganor tipped his cap to both Wildcats gifted
junior pitcher Nick Margevicius and SVSM’s gritty senior ace Andy Farrell.

In what was a match up featuring a couple of resilient and determined southpaws, Margevicius got off to the better start and answered every challenge along the way. In going the distance, Nick now stands 2-0 on
the season after he scattered five hits, struck out six and walked two. St. Vincent-St. Mary’s run was unearned.

As for Farrell, whose record slipped to 1-2, his mental toughness was evident from the third inning on.

However, Saint Ignatius’ offense, with senior Captains Dan Rowbottom and Conor Hennessey helping lead the way, got to Farrell for two runs in the top of the first inning and three more in the second. That proved to be
more than enough for the Wildcats and Margevicius.

“Yeah, he settled in,” said Coach Ganor of Farrell. “But it was good to score early and often. It’s refreshing to see great pitching. Nick didn’t overpower them by any means, but he pitched to contact and let his defense make the plays. If we go and play every game this week as scheduled, we need that complete game. We’re going to need the arms and I’m very proud of the job Nick did.”

Saint Ignatius’ offense wasted little time in doing its job.

Rowbottom, a second baseman whose play has earned him a scholarship to Illinois, led off the game with a double down the first-base line. Savvy senior shortstop and Captain Tyler Finkler followed with a perfect
sacrifice bunt and Hennessey, a mainstay in center field, drew a walk that put runners on first and third.

As Hennessey broke for second, Rowbottom made a move like he was breaking for home and the Fighting Irish threw the ball into short left field, allowing Rowbottom to score. Hennessey then stole third and came home on a groundout off the bat of junior left fielder Nick Fabian.

After Margevicius retired the Fighting Irish in order in the bottom of the first, the Wildcats put the pressure on SVSM with their three-run second inning.

With one out and nobody on base, promising sophomore catcher Alex Panstares hit a sharp single up the middle. A wild pitch off a third strike and an RBI single up the middle by Rowbottom pushed the ‘Cats’ lead to 3-0. Rowbottom would go on to steal second and third, Finkler drew a walk and stole second and Hennessey delivered a two-out, two-run single. Like Panstares and Rowbottom, Hennessey took the pitch up the middle.

Rowbottom had three hits in four at-bats and Hennessey was 2-for-2. Saint Ignatius finished with nine hits.

All of the scoring occurred in the first two innings, as the Fighting Irish (4-3) tallied on an error, a single to right field by sophomore third baseman Anthony Cerreto, a sacrifice bunt by sophomore first baseman Ryan Donahue and a fielder’s choice.

Margevicius and the ‘Cats' defense took care of the rest while Farrell was recovering nicely for SVSM.

The defensive play of the game was turned in by Fabian, who robbed Fighting Irish sophomore shortstop Ian Dillard of extra bases by running down the ball and making a leaping one-handed grab in left-center field in the bottom of the third.

Saint Ignatius was threatening again in the top of the fifth, but Farrell started a 1-2-3 double play with the bases loaded.

“I was really able to locate my fastball well,” said Margevicius, who threw 92 pitches. “That was the key, to build off of that. I stuck to that for the first few innings and then I was able to throw the curveball for a strike, which kept them off balance, especially the second and third time through the lineup.

"I didn’t throw the change up much, but then I really didn’t need to," Margevicius continued. "We’re (the pitching staff) starting to find it.”