DAVENPORT, Fla. – The Blueboys picked up a pair of wins Wednesday, defeating the University of Dubuque 2–0 before rallying past Grove City College 5–4 in the nightcap.
Illinois College moves to 4–2 on the season.
Game One – Illinois College 2 Dubuque 0
The Blueboys used timely hitting and dominant pitching to blank Dubuque 2–0.
Illinois College broke through in the fourth inning. Ketch Mills reached and later scored, while Wade Sabo also crossed the plate. Dalton Strode delivered the key hit of the inning, driving in a run as IC capitalized on a Dubuque error to plate both runs.
Senior right-hander Michael Larson started and tossed 4.2 scoreless innings, scattering four hits. Junior lefty Coy Dettmer was lights out in relief, earning the win with 4.1 shutout innings and five strikeouts to secure the 2–0 victory.
Mills led the offense with two hits, while Strode added two hits and an RBI. Alex Loman, Jacoby Gross, Nolan Decker, and Ethan Klunk each contributed a hit in the eight-hit effort.
Game Two – Illinois College 5 Grove City 4
The Blueboys responded to Grove City's late push with a clutch eighth inning to complete the sweep.
IC struck first in the third inning. Dalton Strode singled to spark the rally, and Nathan Walker followed with a base hit. Tyler Barker drove in the first run with an RBI single before Mills added another RBI knock to make it 2-0.
Grove City chipped away with a run in the fifth and another in the sixth to pull even at 2-2.
In the bottom of the eighth, Illinois College delivered. Nolan Decker singled to start the inning, and after a pitching error moved runners into scoring position, Nick Williams came through with a two-RBI single to give IC a 4-2 lead. Walker later added an RBI single to extend the advantage to 5-2.
Grove City made things interesting in the ninth, scoring twice, but junior right-hander Connor Akstulewicz shut the door to earn the win in relief.
Walker finished 2-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base. Barker had two hits and an RBI, while Williams drove in two with a clutch eighth-inning single. Strode added another hit as part of IC's 11-hit attack.
On the mound, Sabo started and threw three scoreless innings. Chase Schrader and Aidan Lougeay bridged the middle innings before Akstulewicz secured the final six outs.
Up Next
The Blueboys will have Thursday off before returning to action Friday for a doubleheader against Saint Mary's University (Minnesota). First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m. CT, with game two scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CT at the Chain of Lakes Sports Complex.
