JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – Illinois College dropped both games of a doubleheader to Wisconsin-Platteville on Friday at Joe Brooks Field, falling 16-11 in the opener before a late rally lifted the Pioneers to a 9-7 win in game two.
Illinois College moves to 9-8 on the season following the pair of losses, and the Pioneers move to 8-2.
Game One – Wisconsin-Platteville 16 Illinois College 11
The Blueboys jumped out to an early lead but a seven-run sixth inning from Wisconsin-Platteville proved to be the difference as the Pioneers claimed the opener.
Illinois College erupted for five runs in the second inning to take control early. Logan Fleener started the rally with an RBI double before Alex Loman followed with a run-scoring double of his own. Nathan Walker capped the inning with a three-run home run to give the Blueboys a 5-1 lead.
The Blueboys added another run in the third on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 6-2.
Wisconsin-Platteville responded with a massive sixth inning, highlighted by a two-run home run from Anthony Massa and a two-run blast from Brayden Knoll that helped the Pioneers score seven runs and take an 11-6 advantage.
Illinois College battled back late, scoring four runs in the eighth inning. Nicholas Muskopf drove in a run with a double, Nolan Decker added an RBI double, and Ketch Mills followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to three.
Walker led the offense with a home run and three RBIs while Decker finished with two hits and scored twice. Muskopf, Mills, Ethan Klunk, Fleener, Loman, and Nick Williams each added a hit for the Blueboys.
On the mound, Dawson Vernier started and worked 3.2 innings before Chase Schrader was charged with the loss in relief. Landon Sloan, Parker Roberts, Koeyn DeClercq, and Evan Cooper also appeared out of the bullpen.
Game Two – Wisconsin-Platteville 9 Illinois College 7
Illinois College again built an early lead but Wisconsin-Platteville scored six runs in the ninth inning to steal a 9-7 victory in the nightcap.
The Pioneers struck first with a three-run home run from Anthony Massa in the opening inning.
Illinois College answered with a five-run second inning to take the lead. Tyler Barker drove in a run with a single before Ketch Mills delivered a two-run single as the Blueboys capitalized on multiple Wisconsin-Platteville errors during the rally.
The Blueboys added another run in the seventh inning when Nathan Walker came around to score after a Pioneer defensive miscue, extending the lead to 7-3.
Wisconsin-Platteville rallied in the ninth, scoring six runs on four hits and a pair of Illinois College errors to take the lead for good.
Decker led the Blueboys offensively with four hits and an RBI. Mills added two hits and two RBIs, while Walker and Klunk each collected two hits. Barker also contributed two hits and an RBI.
Anthony Buonaura started on the mound and worked 4.2 innings. Coy Dettmer took the loss after allowing three runs in relief, while Connor Akstulewicz also appeared in the ninth inning.
Up Next
The Blueboys are back home once again for another non-conference game against Millikin on Sunday with first pitch set for 1:00pm.
