AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The Elmhurst baseball team used a 6-4 game-two victory to split a doubleheader with the Rochester Institute of Technology. 

RIT 5, Elmhurst 3 (Eight Innings)

In a game slated for seven innings, RIT scored two runs in the first extra-inning to take a victory in game one of the doubleheader.

With the score tied at three after Elmhurst scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to stay alive, the Tigers bounced back with two runs of their own in the eighth. Zach Zabel reached on an error and put himself 90 feet away from scoring by stealing second and moving to third on a sacrifice bunt. Will Gorman plated Zabel with an RBI double to left center, then scored on Phil Sammon's double to center field. Tom Dillon earned the save for RIT by allowing just a two-out single to A.J. Compton in the bottom of the inning. 

Elmhurst broke the scoring in the bottom of the first. With two away and nobody on, Ben Havel singled and stole second. After Greg Struck walked A.J. Compton doubled to left field, scoring Havel. 

RIT tied the score at one on a Daniel Zeglen home run in the third and then took its first lead with a pair in the sixth. 

Elmhurst fought back to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Austin MacMillan reached on an error, Trey Compton to right field, and then both runners moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Reagan McReynolds knocked both in with a single, tying the game at three. 

In the next half inning, RIT scored the two go-ahead runs. 

Elmhurst starter Mike Rostine pitched 7.1 innings, allowing eight hits, five runs (four earned), while striking out seven and walking just one. Ben Modesitt came in the game to clean up the eighth and did not allow a baserunner. 

A.J. Compton knocked around three hits and one RBI, while McReynolds knocked in two runs. Havel and Trey Compton also added two hits apiece. 

Phil Sammon knocked in three runs for RIT, while Taylor Hogan went 3-for-3. Brandon Cohall earned the win, tossing seven innings of three-run ball. He allowed seven hits, while fanning seven and walking one. Dillon allowed just one hit, while striking out two in the eighth, which gave him the save. 

Elmhurst 6, RIT 4
A solid start from Ryan Millan and a huge bases-clearing double from Struck led Elmhurst to a 6-4 victory. 

Once again, the Bluejays jumped on the RIT starter in the first inning. Brandon Kressner and Havel started the rally with singles. With runners on the corners, Struck's single scored Kressner and moved Havel to third. Havel came around when A.J. Compton reached on an error and after one inning, Elmhurst led 2-0. 

Elmhurst starter Ryan Millan began his outing with four scoreless innings, allowing just two hits. In the fifth, RIT chipped into the lead as Zabel singled home Gage Blasi. 

Trey Compton homered in the eighth to extend the Elmhurst lead to 3-1, but RIT answered with one in the bottom half of the inning. 

Elmhurst three insurance runs in the ninth. Travis Pickard and McReynolds started the rally with a pair of singles and moved into scoring position on Kressner's sacrifice bunt. After RIT intentionally walked Havel to load the bases, Struck doubled to deep left center clearing the bases. 

RIT threatened the ninth, scoring two runs, but Daryl Rivera closed the door to seal Elmhurst's 6-4 victory. 

Struck finished with two hits and four RBIs in the contest, including the key three-run double in the eighth. Havel and Kressner both added two hits for the Bluejays. 

Ryan Millan earned the win, tossing 7.1 innings of two-run ball. He struck out seven and walked none. Rivera pitched 1.2 and earned the save after getting into some trouble in the ninth. 

Brian Reed took the tough-luck loss, allowing two runs in 5.1 innings. Kyle Povlock allowed four runs in three innings, while Dillon came in after one inning in game one and pitched 0.2 to finish out the game for RIT. 

Elmhurst faces Hope College tomorrow, Monday, March 21, at 11:00 Eastern time.