JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – Illinois College opened the 2026 season Friday with a doubleheader split against the College of St. Scholastica. The Blueboys erupted for 22 runs in the opener before dropping a tightly contested second game, 6-5.
Due to fading daylight, the final inning of game two was completed under the lights at Future Champions Field.
Game One – Illinois College 22 St. Scholastica 10
The Blueboys wasted little time setting the tone for the season, plating 22 runs on 17 hits in a dominant offensive performance.
Illinois College struck first in the opening inning on an RBI single from Ketch Mills, then broke the game open with a six-run second frame. Nicholas Muskopf tripled home a run, Tyler Barker reached on an error to bring in another, and Mills capped the inning with a three-run home run as the Blueboys built a 7-0 lead.
The offense never slowed. Barker added a two-run homer in the fourth, and Illinois College pushed across four runs in the fifth before erupting for six in the sixth and three more in the seventh to put the game out of reach.
Muskopf delivered a standout performance at the top of the lineup, going 5-for-6 with five runs scored and five RBIs, including a triple and two doubles. Mills finished 4-for-5 with six RBIs and a home run, while Barker scored four times and drove in two. Jacoby Gross added three runs and two RBIs as part of the 17-hit attack.
On the mound, Dawson Vernier earned the win, with Coy Dettmer and Connor Akstulewicz combining to finish the game.
Game Two – St. Scholastica 6 Illinois College 5
Illinois College jumped out to an early lead in the second game as well, scoring twice in the first inning. Wade Sabo singled in the game's first run, and another crossed on an error to give the Blueboys a 2-0 advantage.
The Blueboys extended the lead to 5-1 through four innings. Adam Turner drove in a run with a bases-loaded walk in the third, and Ketch Mills delivered an RBI double in the fourth before Sabo added a sacrifice fly.
St. Scholastica answered with three runs in the fourth and tied the game in the fifth on a solo home run. In the seventh, the Saints capitalized on a hit batter and a defensive miscue to plate the decisive run and secure the 6–5 win.
Mills and Sabo each drove in runs in the contest, while Nicholas Muskopf, Tyler Barker, Jacoby Gross, Nathan Walker, and Adam Turner all recorded hits. Anthony Buonaura started on the mound, striking out five over four innings.
Up Next
Tomorrow's game against Coe College has been canceled due to weather. The Blueboys will now return to action next weekend in Decatur, where they'll travel to Millikin University for a Saturday doubleheader starting at 11:00 a.m. against the host Big Blue, followed by a 3:00 p.m. matchup with Aurora University.
