JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The Illinois College baseball team collected eight hits but could not overcome an early deficit, falling to Millikin 9-2 in a non-conference matchup Sunday afternoon at Joe Brooks Field.
The Blueboys move to 9-9 on the season while Millikin improves to 15-4.
Millikin 9 Illinois College 2
Millikin struck first in the opening inning with an RBI single before adding two more runs in the second on a two-run home run to take an early 3-0 lead.
The Big Blue added to their advantage in the fourth inning when a two-run triple pushed the lead to 5-0.
Illinois College answered in the bottom of the fourth. Nicholas Muskopf reached on an error and moved into scoring position before Tyler Barker singled to center. Nolan Decker followed with a fielder's choice that moved runners, and Ketch Mills brought home the Blueboys' first run with an RBI fielder's choice to make it 5-1.
Millikin responded with a four-run fifth inning, highlighted by a two-run double and a sacrifice fly, stretching the lead to 9-1.
The Blueboys plated their final run in the eighth inning. Nathan Walker singled to center and later scored when Nolan Decker delivered an RBI single up the middle, cutting the deficit to 9-2.
Illinois College finished with eight hits on the afternoon. Walker, Tyler Barker, and Ethan Klunk each recorded two hits, while Decker drove in a run.
On the mound, Parker Phillis started for Illinois College and struck out six over 4.1 innings. Aidan Lougeay, Xavier Koch, and Michael Larson combined to finish the game in relief, with Koch tossing 3.1 scoreless innings and striking out three.
Up Next
The Blueboys return to Joe Brooks Field on Saturday, March 28, to open conference play against Beloit College in a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m.
