Yorkville 12, Geneva 2

What a difference a day -- and facing a team's ace -- can make.

On the same field Geneva pounded Glenbard South for 19 runs and 5 home runs to win a key Western Sun Conference series Thursday, the Vikings managed just a pair of unearned runs in a 12-2 loss to Yorkville Friday.

Corbin Lucas (3-1) defeated Geneva for the second time this year. The first time he fanned 10. Geneva adjusted and came out more aggressive -- not striking out once -- but it didn't help the Vikings in the statistic that counts most.

Half of Geneva's (11-4, 5-4) losses this season have come to Lucas and the Foxes (8-4, 5-4).

"The whole week we hit well," Geneva coach Matt Hahn said. "I thought our approach at the plate today was good, we just lacked that key hit when we had guys on base."

It's been a wild ride halfway through the Western Conference season. Yorkville was swept by Glenbard South, a team the Vikings just beat two of three. Batavia put itself in good position at 7-2 by winning two of three this week against Sycamore, who also has 2 losses.

"It's all about matchups," Foxes coach Eric Miller said. "Some teams match up with each other. Some times you can't. It's that way in the pros, that way in high school."

And the matchups were in Yorkville's favor Friday. The Vikings went through their top pitchers this week to win the Glenbard South series and called up sophomore Andrew Sroka to start.

Yorkville had Lucas rested and ready.

"They set it up, they maybe circled our game on the schedule," Geneva coach Matt Hahn said.

"As defending conference champs maybe you expect that a little bit. They had their No. 1 set to come back today. It's real tough. They were able to work their schedule and he pitched well."

Geneva's only two runs came in the bottom of second. Ryan Payne doubled and Dan Rowe singled. Payne scored on a wild pitch, then Rowe also came in to score on the play when the throw to try to get Payne got away.

Geneva left the bases loaded in the third and Rowe just missed a 3-run home run in the fifth.

"We hit the ball hard and everything, we just couldn't get a break," Payne said. "It was a tough day for us. Give them credit. They hit the ball. It just wasn't our day."

Yorkville also played outstanding defense, making a couple running catches in the outfield and turning two double plays. Lucas allowed 8 hits, 3 walks and hit a batter but his defense helped him escape with little damage.

"We came out ready to play," Miller said. "Our defense came to play. We came out hitting the ball. I was very happy, very happy."

Leading 8-2 in the sixth, Yorkville's No. 8 hitter Luke Gilbertson hit a grand slam down the left-field line that gave the Foxes a 10-run lead and shortened it to a 6-inning game.

Cory Hofstetter led Geneva's 8-hit attack with 2 hits, and the Vikings' No. 4 through No. 9 hitters all had a hit.

The Vikings, who are scheduled to play Oswego East today, finish conference play with Rochelle, Batavia and Sycamore. They will try to make the same run that saw them come from 5-6 a year ago into a furious finish with 9 wins in their final 10 games to claim their first conference title.

"We've still got a shot," Payne said. "We've got to play well the rest of the year and see what happens.

"Top to bottom it is a tough conference. Everyone beats up on each other. Hopefully we'll catch a break and some other teams will beat up on each other."