WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Blueboys split a pair of seven-inning games Friday against Saint Mary's (Minn.), earning a 9-4 victory in the opener before falling 5-0 in the nightcap.
Illinois College now stands at 5–3 on the season.
Game One – Illinois College 9 Saint Mary's 4
The Blueboys broke open a tight game late, scoring four runs in the seventh inning to secure a 9-4 victory in the opener.
After Saint Mary's scored first in the opening inning, Illinois College answered in the second when Nolan Decker tripled and Wade Sabo brought him home with an RBI groundout to tie the game.
The teams traded runs early before IC took control in the third inning. Nicholas Muskopf and Tyler Barker reached base ahead of Ketch Mills, who delivered a two-run double to give the Blueboys a 3-2 lead.
Illinois College added two more runs in the fifth. Barker doubled and Mills reached before Sabo lined a two-run single to extend the lead to 5-3.
The Blueboys put the game away in the seventh. Barker doubled again to start the inning before Nick Williams delivered a two-RBI single. Jacoby Gross later added an RBI single as IC plated four runs in the frame.
Barker led the offense with three hits and three runs scored, while Muskopf added two hits. Mills drove in two runs and Sabo finished with three RBIs.
On the mound, Dawson Vernier earned the win after tossing four innings and allowing three runs. Coy Dettmer was dominant in relief, striking out seven over the final 2.2 innings to earn the save.
Game Two – Saint Mary's 5 Illinois College 0
Saint Mary's capitalized on defensive miscues to take the nightcap 5-0 despite the Blueboys matching the Cardinals with six hits.
Illinois College threatened early, loading the bases in the second inning, but Saint Mary's worked out of the jam to keep the game scoreless.
The Cardinals broke through in the fifth inning, scoring three runs after an error extended the inning. Saint Mary's added two more in the seventh to pull away.
Tyler Barker and Ketch Mills each collected two hits for Illinois College, while Nolan Decker and Jacoby Gross also added hits.
Anthony Buonaura took the loss after allowing three runs, none earned, over 4.2 innings. Aidan Lougeay finished the game with 2.1 innings in relief.
Up Next
The Blueboys will wrap up their Florida trip with a 9:00 a.m. CT matchup against Hope College before heading back north.
