Baseball Sweeps Doubleheader against Dominican (Ill.)

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Early offense and solid pitching was such a good formula for the Illinois College baseball team in yesterday's season-opening win over Northland that the team decided to use it once again on Sunday in a pair of games against Dominican University (Ill.). The Blueboys jumped out to early leads in each contest with the Stars and held off challenges in each to improve to 3-0 on the season.

Illinois College has Monday off before returning to the field for two games versus the University of Minnesota-Morris beginning on Tuesday at 9 a.m. EST.

Game One: Illinois College 9, Dominican (Ill.) 4
With Josh Krumwiede's five RBIs providing the crux of the Blueboy offense, IC had enough in the tank to fend off Dominican after the Stars twice rallied to within a run. Dylan Sunderland got the win on the hill, scattering four runs across five innings and striking out four before Zack Hanlon and Kevin Schuh closed the door on the win.

Illinois College started the game by scoring at least one run in the first four innings. Nick Dalfonso led off the game with a single and stole second – one of his four steals on the day. Krumwiede then plated him with a double to right to stake the Blueboys to a 1-0 edge. Dalton Kerans followed that with a triple to the gap in right-center to double the lead to 2-0 after the first inning.

In the second, Drew Law led off against Dominican starter Chance Emlund with a double to right-center. After moving up 90 feet on a wild pitch, he scored off of a Dalfonso triple. Dominican came back to score two runs in the bottom half, but IC answered in the top of the third as Krumwiede led off with a double. A deep fly from Zac Schopp took him to third on the tag, allowing him to score when Collin Dooley singled.

The Blueboys were at it again in the fourth inning. Dalfonso started it on a one-out walk before stealing second with two down. A Krumwiede single to center brought the speedy senior outfielder around to score, extending the lead to 5-2.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Dominican put Illinois College in a tough spot, but a 1-3-2 double play ended the threat with the Blueboys maintaining a 5-4 lead. 

Following a scoreless fifth inning, IC salted the game away in the top of the sixth. An error from the Stars helped bring Connor Melton around to score with one down. With two men on, Krumwiede's second home run of the season effectively ended Dominican's hopes. Holding a 9-4 lead, the Blueboys stranded three Dominican runners in the bottom half of the sixth inning and Schuh worked a 1-2-3 seventh for the win.

Krumwiede ended the game 4-of-5 at the plate with three runs scored. Dalfonso was 2-of-3 with three runs, while Melton was 2-of-4.

Game Two: Illinois College 4, Dominican (Ill.) 1
Illinois College starting pitcher Dylan Jones controlled the action in the second game of the twinbill. The freshman had a sensational first outing, throwing a complete game and allowing just three hits in his seven innings of work. The Blueboys left 10 runners on base, but Dominican couldn't capitalize on its rare chances.

Wary of Dalfonso's speed on the basepaths, Dominican starter Dakota Pisarek gave up a single to lead off the game, then saw him take second on a wild pitch and third on a failed pickoff attempt that rolled away into the outfield. After that, all it took was a sacrifice fly from Law to bring Dalfonso home for a quick 1-0 lead after one.

The score was still 1-0 with the Blueboys batting in the bottom of the fourth as Jones had kept the Stars without a hit up to that point. With one down, Dalfonso and Law again worked together to double the IC advantage. Dalfonso hit a one-out single to center and moved around to third on a stolen base and wild pitch. Law then deposited a Pisarek offering back up the middle for a 2-0 lead.

Dominican had its first and last chance at a rally in the fifth. After Jones sat down the first two Stars to extend his bid at a no-hitter, Royce Salay managed to reach on an infield single that took baserunner Lucas McKinney – having reached on a HBP – to second. A Kevin Schwer momentarily cut the IC lead to 2-1 and brought Dominican to within 90 feet of a tie ballgame. Krumwiede ended the threat however, fielding a ball at second and running to the bag for the unassisted forceout of Schwer.

In the bottom of the fifth, Illinois College chased Pisarek from the game. Kerans led off with a single and Jordan Boehs moved him up on a one-out single of his own. Matt Jagodzinski brought Kerans in on a single into right field for a 3-1 lead and Lucas Marlow plated Boehs on a sac fly to center, making it 4-1.

Jones got back to work in the sixth, sitting Dominican down in order. Colin Janison led off the seventh with a single to left, but Jones ended any threat with three consecutive flyouts, giving IC the sweep on the day.

Dalfonso, Boehs and Jagodzinski each ended with two hits to pace the Blueboy offense, who are 3-0 for the first time since 2012.