JACKSONVILLE, Ill. - The Illinois College Baseball team faced Loras College in a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. The Blueboys were defeated in a nail biter in game one by a final score of 3-2, and then the team was defeated in game two by a final score of 11-6.
Game 1- Illinois College 2, Loras College, 3
Loras College was able to jump out to an early 2-0 lead in the top half of the second inning. However, the Blueboys offense would answer back with one run of their own in the bottom half of the second inning thanks to a
Peyton Abbott single which brought home
Kellen Blum. The Duhawks would see their lead increase to 3-1 after a fielder's choice ground ball back to the pitcher in top half of the 5th. The Blueboys offense would counter in the bottom half of the fifth inning with an error that brought home Abbott to make the score 3-2.
Illinois College starting pitcher
Zach Neal had his strongest outing of the season by going 5.1 innings and allowing just four hits. Neal was tabbed as the losing pitcher (0-3).
Ben Jarboe covered the remaining 1.2 innings for the Blueboys on the mound.
Game 2- Illinois College 6, Loras College 11
Loras College's offense was able to ride their game one momentum into game two by scoring eight runs in the first three frames.
Griffin King showed off his offensive ability by hitting a towering home run over the left field fence in the bottom half of the second. The Duhawks were able to score a single run in the fourth and the fifth to stretch their lead to 10-1. This lead proved to be too much to overcome. The Illinois College offense showed some late life by scoring five runs over the last three innings. The Blueboys would eventually fall 11-6.
Peyton Abbott's bat remained hot by driving in four runs and generating two hits for the Blueboys offense.
Peyton Stegeman and King both recorded one RBI.
The Blueboys used a total of seven pitchers to cover game two. IC's starter,
Andy Cruthis, got the loss (0-1).
Ryan Matheny and Conner Wilson both recorded strong outings for the pitching staff.
The Blueboys baseball team will remain at home to face Edgewood College in a doubleheader on Wednesday, 3/17 at 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM.
