JACKSONVILLE, Ill. - The Illinois College baseball team delivered a thrilling comeback victory on Sunday afternoon, scoring four runs in the bottom of the ninth to walk off Cornell College 12-11 at Joe Brooks Field.
The Blueboys move to 16-13 and 7-4 in Midwest Conference play and Cornell moves to 12-15 (4-7).
After falling behind 3-0 in the opening inning, the Blueboys responded in a big way, erupting for six runs in the bottom half to take early control. Ketch Mills drove in two with a single, Ethan Klunk added an RBI knock, and Logan Fleener followed with a run-scoring hit before Maddox Klawitter capped the inning with a two-run single to make it 6-3.
Illinois College extended its lead to 8-3 through five innings, getting an RBI from Tyler Barker in the fourth and taking advantage of an error in the fifth to plate another run.
Cornell answered with a big sixth inning, scoring five runs to surge ahead 9-8, and continued to apply pressure with runs in the seventh and ninth to build an 11-8 advantage heading into the final frame.
The Blueboys refused to go quietly. Mills opened the ninth with a single before Nicholas Muskopf worked a walk. Klunk delivered an RBI single to cut the deficit to two, and Evan Cooper followed with a run-scoring hit to make it 11-10. After moving runners into scoring position, Klawitter came through in the clutch, lining a two-run single to center field to complete the comeback and seal the 12-11 victory.
Klawitter led the way offensively with three hits and four RBIs, including the game-winner. Klunk finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Mills added two hits and two RBIs. Muskopf also recorded a multi-hit game and scored twice in the win.
Coy Dettmer earned the victory in relief, tossing the final 3.1 innings while allowing two runs and striking out three.
Up Next
Illinois College will host Monmouth College on Wednesday, April 15 at 1:00 p.m. for a single Midwest Conference matchup, wrapping up the series following last week's split on the road.
