Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

ELMHURST, Ill. - The Elmhurst College baseball team split a doubleheader with 26th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University to take two-out-of-three from the defending national champions.  Elmhurst won game one 7-5 but Illinois Wesleyan earned the doubleheader split by taking the night cap 9-4.

ELMHURST 7, ILLINOIS WESLEYAN 5 - The Bluejays rallied for two runs in the seventh inning to turn a one-run deficit into a two-run victory.

Trailing 3-1 in the sixth inning, the Bluejays scored three runs to take a 4-3 lead. Zach Hofer tied the score on a two-run double. Dave Wolak put Elmhurst on top by driving in Hofer on a double.

Illinois Wesleyan (22-12, 12-7 CCIW) rallied for a pair of runs in the seventh to take a 5-4 lead. Elmhurst answered right back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh. A throwing error on Illinois Wesleyan allowed the Bluejays to score the tying run. Dan Makovic followed with an RBI double to put Elmhurst on top 6-5.

The Bluejays added an insurance run in the eighth inning on Dave Parr's bunt single.

Wolak, Parr and Brian Evans recorded two hits apiece for the Bluejays in the win. Parr and Hofer drove in two runs each for Elmhurst. Tyler Wargo and Dan Bosco both scored a pair of runs for the Bluejays.

Joe Luft made the start for Elmhurst and took a no-decision, tossing 6.1 innings of work and scattering eight hits and four earned runs. He walked four and struck out one. Parr earned the win in relief, working 1.2 scoreless innings to improve to 4-2 on the season. Zach Hofer worked a scoreless ninth inning to earn his first save of the season.

ILLINOIS WESLEYAN 9, ELMHURST 5 - Elmhurst jumped on the scoreboard in the first inning, but the Titans sent nine batters to the plate and scored five runs in the second quickly take control of the game.

RBI doubles from Matkovic and Wolak gave Elmhurst a 2-0 lead after one inning, but the Titans jumped on the Bluejays for five runs in the second inning on six hits.

Elmhurst got a run back in the bottom of the second on an RBI single from Wargo, but Illinois Wesleyan scored three times in the third to pull away to an 8-3 lead.

Matkovic collected three hits and launched a solo homer in the eight inning to spark the Bluejays offense. The Elmhurst centerfielder also scored two runs and drove in a pair. Wargo also finished with three hits while also scoring a run and driving in a run.

Jordan Hanlon made the start and took the loss for Elmhurst. Hanlon was tagged for seven hits and seven runs in just two innings of work.

The Titans' Nick Mehn earned the win, working 7.1 innings and scattering 10 hits and four runs. He walked two and fanned eight while improving to 5-1 on the year.

Elmhurst travels to Carroll University to play a doubleheader on Sunday, May 1.