GRINNELL, Iowa – The Illinois College baseball team dropped a tight contest on Friday afternoon, falling 8-7 to Grinnell at Pioneer Park.

With the loss, the Blueboys move to 23-15 overall and 14-5 in Midwest Conference play, while Grinnell improves to 21-15 (15-4 MWC).

Illinois College struck first in the opening inning. Tyler Barker worked his way around the bases before Ketch Mills brought him home with an RBI groundout. The run was Mills' 64th RBI of the season, setting a new Midwest Conference single-season record.

Grinnell responded immediately and used a solo home run in the second along with a three-run third inning to build a 5-2 advantage.

The Blueboys stayed within reach as Mills drove in another run in the third, and Adam Turner followed with an RBI double in the fourth to make it a two-run game.

After Grinnell extended the lead to 6-3 in the fifth, Illinois College continued to chip away. Logan Fleener lifted a sacrifice fly in the sixth to bring the Blueboys within two.

Illinois College put together its biggest inning in the eighth. Fleener reached on an error to score a run, Turner drew a bases-loaded walk, and Alex Loman added a sacrifice fly to give the Blueboys a 7-6 lead.

Grinnell answered in the bottom of the ninth, tying the game with a solo home run before loading the bases and drawing a walk-off walk to secure the win.

The Blueboys totaled seven hits in the game. Ketch Mills led the way with two hits and two RBIs, while Tyler Barker scored twice. Nolan Decker recorded a triple, and Turner drove in a pair.

On the mound, Dawson Vernier worked five innings, allowing six runs, five earned, while striking out two. Wade Sabo was charged with the loss in relief, striking out four over three innings.

Up Next
The Blueboys will close out the regular season tomorrow with a doubleheader against the Pioneers, needing a sweep to secure the Midwest Conference title. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m.