DECATUR, Ill. – The Blueboys split a pair of games Saturday at Millikin University, falling 5–4 to Millikin University before defeating Aurora University 17–14 in the second game.
Illinois College moves to 2–2 on the season.
Game One – Millikin 5 Illinois College 4
Millikin scored five runs in the fourth inning and that proved to be the difference in a 5–4 game.
The Blueboys were held scoreless through four before getting on the board in the fifth. Alex Loman singled and later scored on Adam Turner's RBI triple to right.
Illinois College added three runs in the sixth. Tyler Barker singled to start the inning, Nolan Decker doubled, and Ketch Mills drove in a run with a base hit. Jacoby Gross brought in another on a fielder's choice, and Dalton Strode added an RBI single to cut the deficit to 5–4.
IC had runners on in the final three innings but could not push across the tying run.
Turner finished 2-for-4 with a triple and RBI. Barker and Wade Sabo each had two hits, while Decker recorded a double as part of a 10-hit effort.
Dawson Vernier started and struck out six over four innings. Chase Schrader and Coy Dettmer combined for four scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
Game Two – Illinois College 17 Aurora 14
The Blueboys scored 17 runs on 19 hits to earn the split in a high-scoring second game.
Illinois College scored twice in the first inning on RBIs from Ketch Mills and Wade Sabo. Aurora responded with nine runs in the third to take an 11–4 lead.
IC answered with four runs in the fourth. Nolan Decker hit a two-run home run, and the Blueboys added two more in the inning to make it 11–8.
In the sixth, Illinois College tied the game at 13–13. Ethan Klunk hit a two-run triple, and Nicholas Muskopf followed with an RBI single.
The Blueboys took the lead in the seventh when Mills hit a three-run home run to make it 16–13. IC added one more in the eighth and held on for the 17–14 win.
Mills went 3-for-5 with a home run and five RBIs. Muskopf had three hits, Nathan Walker had four hits, and Decker homered and scored four runs.
Anthony Buonaura started on the mound. Connor Akstulewicz earned the win with 2.1 innings of relief, and Dettmer picked up the save with the final three innings.
Up Next
The Blueboys head South for their annual trip to Florida and will take on the University of Dubuque and Grove City College on Wednesday at 11:45 and 3:15 CT.
