JACKSONVILLE, Ill. - The Illinois College baseball team continued its non-conference schedule by hosting Concordia University of Wisconsin for a double-header Saturday afternoon at Joe Brooks Field. The Blueboys used an offensive overhaul and produced 42 runs on 36 hits to sweep the Falcons.
IC's
Adam Passmore had a spectacular day at the plate as the junior second baseman went eight-for-10, including three homeruns on his way to totaling 10 runs batted in and seven runs scored. In the second game, Passmore went a perfect five-of-five in the box that included two three-run home runs for seven runs batted in.
Game 1: Illinois College 26, Concordia Wisconsin 18
Branson Shaw started game one on the mound for the Blueboys and he made quick work of the first three batters. In the bottom half of the first, the Blueboys sent all nine batters to the plate. In the inning, IC scored its runs on rbi singles from
Nolan Decker and
Tyler Barker, a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch drawn by
Logan Schweigert, and a
Ryan Huskey rbi for the 5-0 early advantage.
In the bottom of the second, Passmore lead off the inning with a solo home run over the right center wall that started a six-run inning. The Blueboys batted through the lineup again that features three rbi singles from Decker and Barker that made the score 8-0. After a throwing error on a double-play attempt by the CUW's shortshop,
Connor Hennemann was able to score on the play for 9-0.
Ryne Mapes closed out out the inning with a two-run single to right center that scored
Jon Tate and Barker for the 11-0 lead.
In the top of the third, the Falcons bats came to life and produced six runs that ended Shaw's outing. IC made its first pitching change to senior
Ben Jarboe. Before the inning was finished, the Falcons added five additional runs that featured a grand slam that tied the game at 11 apiece.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Blueboys faced a new CUW pitcher when
Louie Bartletti gave IC the 13-11 lead with a two-run double to left that scored Mapes and Passmore.
In the fifth, the Falcons took their first lead of the game on a Matt Miller rbi single to center that made the score 13-14. After the lead change, IC called upon reliever
Chris Campau out of the bullpen. CUW tacked on three additional runs on two hits that extended the deficit to 13-17.
In the bottom of the fifth, IC countered with a five-run inning that started on a rbi bases-loaded hit-by-pitch drawn by
Liam Tieman that made the 14-17. Immediately following, Mapes ripped a two-rbi single to left that scored Tate and Schweigert that cut the deficit to one at 16-17. IC tied the game at 17 on a rbi from Passmore when Bartletti regained the lead fro the Blueboys with a rbi single to right that scored Mapes for the 18-17 lead.
In the top of the sixth, the Falcons tied the game at 18 apiece with a sacrifice fly. In the bottom, Tate and Schweigert got the inning started with back-to-back singles when Tieman ripped a double down the right field line that allowed Tate to scored on the play for the 19-18 lead. Immediately following another CUW pitching change, a wild pitch allowed Schweigert to score that increased the lead to 20-18. Passmore capped off the inning with a rbi single to left center that scored Tieman for the 21-18 advantage.
After a scoreless top seventh by Campau, the Blueboys continued to extend the lead with a five-run inning. The first three batters of the inning reached base when Barker roped a single into right that scored Bartletti and Decker that made the score 23-18. Following a Falcon pitching change, a balk allowed Hennemann on third to score on the play for the 24-18 lead. The inning continued with a delayed steal by Schweigert that drew a throw to second when the ball trickled into short center that allowed Barker to score that increased the lead to 25-18. IC scored its final run of the game on a rbi single to right from Mapes. Campau closed out the game by recording the final six outs and included a strikeout.
For game one, IC had five different student-athletes record at least three hits as Mapes lead with five runs batted in. On the mound, Shaw pitched two and two-thirds innings while Jarboe threw two. The McKendree University pitcher transfer in Campau was credited with the win after providing 4.1 innings of solid relief and struck out three.
Game 2: Illinois College 16, Concordia Wisconsin 3
Left-handed starting pitcher
Jack McGuire got the start on the mound in the nightcap and retired the first 11 batters he saw before allowing a hit. In the bottom of the first, the Blueboys loaded the bases for Hennemann when he scored Passmore after beating out a double-play attempt by CUW that gave IC the early 1-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the second, Schweigert and Tieman both singled and advanced 90 feet on a wild pitch. With both runners in scoring position, Passmore drove a deep blast and carried just over the right center field wall for a three-run home run that increased the IC lead to 4-0.
In the bottom of the third, after back-to-back singles from Hennemann and Barker, Tieman ripped a two-run single to center that scored Hennemann and Barker that extended the lead to 6-0. Passmore capped off the inning with his second three-run home run of the game with a no-doubter over the right center field that landed on the running track for the 9-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth and runners in scoring position, Tate ripped a two-run single to center that scored Hennemann and Barker that pushed the lead to 11-0. After the Blueboys loaded the bases, Passmore lined the ball off the CUW's pitcher's leg that allowed Schweigert to score for the 12-0 lead. With the bases still loaded, Bartletti drew a walk that scored Tieman for the 13-0 advantage.
Following a walk and a subsequent double to start the top of the fifth, Concordia was able to plate its first two runs on a two-RBI single from Jordan Vazquez. CUW's catcher Connor Lasch added a RBI double of his own to bring in Vazquez, cutting the Blueboys lead to 13-3. In the bottom half, IC got one of those runs back on a rbi single to left center from Tate that scored Hennemann that made the score 14-3.
In the top of the sixth, IC made a pitching change to Fredrick Community College transfer
Tyler Allen as he delivered a scoreless inning. In the bottom half, IC added their final two runs of the game; a rbi infield single by Bartletti and a sacrifice from Decker that generated the final score of 16-3.
For game two, Passmore led IC in hits and runs batted in with five hits and drove in seven while Tieman and Hennemann each recorded two hits and scored three times. On the mound, McGuire pitched five innings and struck out six while Allen delivered two scoreless innings.
The Blueboys will travel to Eureka College on Sunday, March 17 to face the Red Devils for their final non-conference double-header of the season starting at 12:00 PM in Eureka, Illinois.
