JACKSONVILLE, Ill. - The Illinois College baseball team dropped a pair of games in their home opener this afternoon vs. Simpson College by scores of 7-3 and 8-4. The Blueboys fall to 0-2 on the year with the two defeats.
Game One: Simpson 7, Illinois College 3 (7 innings)
The Illinois College Blueboys were able to strike first in the first inning thanks to a
James Marcinkowski fielder's choice that brought home
Peyton Phillis. The Storm were able to tab a single run in the second and third innings to make the score 2-1. The Blueboys were able to tie the game in the bottom of the third inning thanks to a
Tyler Blum RBI double. After this, the pitching duo of Brady Held and Trey Castle were able to keep the Blueboys offense in check. The Storm were able to score five unanswered runs to take a commanding 7-2 lead by scoring two in the fifth, one in the sixth, and two in the seventh. The Blueboys showed some late life by scoring one in the final frame on a Blum RBI sac fly. Phillis and Blum led the Blueboys offensively. Phillis notched two hits while Blum drove in two Blueboys.
The Blueboys starting pitcher,
Brian Kindt, did not factor into the decision. He went 3.0 innings allowing two hits, two runs (one earned), while striking out three.
Ben Jarboe (0-1) was first out of the bullpen for the Blueboys. He went 1.2 innings allowing two hits and two runs. Jarboe was followed by
Andy Cruthis who tossed 1.1 innings allowing three runs on two hits.
Gunner Spivey threw the final frame for the Blueboys while surrendering one hit in a scoreless seventh.
The Simpson College starting pitcher was Brady Held (1-0). Held threw 4.0 innings while allowing three hits, two runs, while striking out six Blueboys. Trey Castile tossed the final 3.0 innings for the Storm. Castile had an impressive outing while giving up one hit and one run.
Game Two: Simpson 8, Illinois College 4
After a quick first inning of work by Illinois College starting pitcher
Zach Neal (0-1), the Simpson College offensive showed its potency by scoring six runs in the second giving them a 6-0 lead. The Blueboys offense was able to chip away at its deficit thanks to a
Kellen Blum single in the second to cut the lead to 6-1. IC put its power on display in the third inning with solo home runs by
Peyton Phillis and
James Marcinkowski to make it a 6-3 lead for the Storm. Simpson was able to tack on two runs in the seventh. The Blueboys concluded the scoring by scoring a run in the eighth to get to the eventual 8-4 final.
Brett Kauzlarich (1-0) got the win for the Storm tossing three innings. The Blueboys used a combination of five pitchers in this contest. Neal,
Ryan Matheny,
Kole Lowry,
Levi Parkevich, and
Cullen McBride all made their season debuts. Matheny had a spectacular outing. He allowed two hits and one run in his 3.2 innings of work.
Tyler Blum and
James Marcinkowski both had two hits for the Blueboys.
Illinois College will remain at home to take on the Westminster College Blue Jays with a double header on Tuesday, 3/2 at 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM.
