GRINNELL, Iowa – Facing elimination on Saturday morning, the Illinois College baseball team delivered one of its most complete performances of the season, rolling past Monmouth College 11-4 at Pioneer Park to stay alive in the Midwest Conference Tournament.
With the win, the Blueboys improve to 26-17 overall and advance in postseason play, while Monmouth sees its season come to an end at 17-23.
Illinois College broke through in the third inning, capitalizing on Monmouth miscues and timely hitting to build a 4-0 advantage. Nathan Walker delivered the big swing of the inning with a two-run single, while the Blueboys added two more unearned runs to seize early control.
Monmouth answered with solo home runs in both the third and fifth innings, but Michael Larson kept the Scots from putting together a bigger rally. The senior right-hander turned in a dominant complete-game performance, working all nine innings while allowing four runs, three earned, on nine hits with five strikeouts.
Holding a 4-2 lead entering the seventh, Illinois College began to pull away. Nolan Decker lined an RBI single to score Tyler Barker, and the Blueboys added two more runs in the eighth on RBI plays from Josh Morales and Barker to stretch the lead to 7-2.
Illinois College put the game out of reach in the ninth. Nicholas Muskopf opened the inning with a solo home run, Morales followed with a two-run single, and Walker added a sacrifice fly as the Blueboys plated four runs in the frame to build an 11-2 cushion.
The Blueboys finished with 11 hits in the win. Barker led the way with three hits, two runs scored, and an RBI, while Walker drove in three runs on two hits. Morales also collected three RBIs, and Muskopf added two hits, including his ninth-inning home run.
Logan Fleener crossed the plate three times, and Illinois College's offense drew six walks while consistently applying pressure throughout the game.
On the mound, Larson improved to 3-0 on the season, tossing 134 pitches in a complete-game effort to help keep Illinois College's tournament run alive.
Blue Notes
Tyler Barker forced a walk in the ninth inning to become the record holder for career walks with his 77th walk of his career at Illinois College.
Up Next
The Blueboys will take on Grinnell once against at 1:40pm in a win or go home game for the Blueboys.
