MONMOUTH, Ill. - The Illinois College baseball team opened Midwest Conference play with a double-header visit to Monmouth College Saturday afternoon. The Blueboys battled the Fighting Scots but dropped both games by the final score 2-12 and 11-16 respectively.
Game 1: Illinois College 2, Monmouth 12
Branson Shaw earned his fifth start of the season as he got in a early 0-5 deficit after the first two innings. After a scoreless third inning by Shaw, the Blueboys added a single run in the top of the fourth inning started on a lead off double by
Louie Bartletti. With runners on first and second,
Jon Tate ripped a rbi single to left that scored Bartletti that cut the deficit to 1-5.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Fighting Scots extended the deficit with a three-run inning that made the score 8-1 that promoted a IC pitching change to
Anthony Buonaura. Buonaura recorded the final out of inning with a flyout to
Ryne Mapes in right.
In the bottom of the sixth, Monmouth added two additional runs that made the score 1-10. In the top of the seventh, the Blueboys got one run back on two hits; a lead off double by
Logan Schweigert to center that was followed up with a rbi single to left by Mapes that scored Schweigert that made the score 2-10.
In the bottom of the eighth, IC called up senior reliever
Dylan Eaton out of the bullpen as he got in a bases-loaded jam. Monmouth put this game away with two runs in the inning that generated the final score of 2-12.
For the game, IC had five different student-athletes record a hit as Mapes had the lone run bated in. On the mound, Shaw delivered 4.2 innings of work while striking out six on 110 pitches. Reliever Buonaura pitched 2.1 innings as he struck out three batters.
Game 2: Illinois College 11, Monmouth 16
The Blueboys opened game two with a leadoff walk by Mapes as he later advanced to scoring position. With two outs and a runner on second,
Nolan Decker smashed a rbi single to left that scored Mapes that gave IC the early 1-0 lead. In the bottom of first,
Jack McGuire took the mound for his fifth of the season and delivered a scoreless inning.
In the top of the second, IC added a single run on a rbi single from Mapes that scored Schweigert for the 2-0 lead. After a scoreless third inning by both teams, the Fighting Scots tied the game at two apiece with two runs in the bottom of the fourth.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, McGuire's outing came to a close after a early inning jam. With one out, IC called upon
Chris Campau out of the pen when Monmouth answered with a five-run inning that made the score 2-7.
In the top of the sixth, the Blueboys chipped back in the game with a three-run inning that started on a
Adam Passmore infield single. Immediately following the single, Bartletti ripped a double down the right field line that advanced Passmore to third. With runners in scoring position, Decker smashed a rbi single to right center that scored Passmore that made the score 3-7. With one out,
Jon Tate cut the deficit to three at 4-7 with a sacrifice fly that scored Bartletti. After a pitching change by Monmouth,
Connor Hennemann added the final run of the inning with a sacrifice fly that scored Decker that made the score 5-7.
In the top of the seventh inning, the Blueboys erupted for a five-run that started on a one-out rbi single to center by Decker that scored Mapes that made the score 6-7. Following a pitching change by Monmouth, Tate issued a walk that loaded the bases. With the bases loaded and one out,
Tyler Barker gave IC the 9-7 lead with a bases-clearing double center that scored Bartletti, Decker, and Tate. After a wild pitch that advanced Barker to third, Hennemann added the final run of the inning with a sacrifice fly that scored Barker that gave IC the 10-7 advantage.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Fighting Scots countered with a five-run inning that gave Monmouth the 10-12 lead. In the bottom of the eighth, Monmouth added four runs on five hits that made the score 10-16. In the final inning, the Blueboys added a single run on a bases-loaded walk drawn by Mapes that generated the final score of 11-16.
For the game, Decker led IC with three hits while tying Barker with a team-high three runs batted in. On the mound, the Blueboys used six different pitchers as McGuire delivered 4.1 innings of work that included three strikeouts.
Andrew Wieneke came out of the bullpen and recorded two strikeouts while relievers Campau and
Jake Holder also recorded a strikeout.
The Blueboys will conclude this series with Monmouth on Sunday, March 24 with a single game starting at 12:00PM (noon) at Joe Brooks Field.
