DECATUR, Ill. – Three hits and four RBIs from Ben Havel were not enough as the Elmhurst baseball team fell to Millikin 15-7.

After Elmhurst (14-10, 3-5 CCIW) plated five runs in the first inning of game two yesterday, the Big Blue (13-9, 2-6 CCIW) flipped the script today.
Millikin loaded the bases with one out and a Keith Askins single opened the scoring. Devin Crews and Kaleb Krigbaum both notched two-RBI singles later in the inning to extend the lead to 5-0.

Millikin added a single run in both the second and third to lead 7-0. After only one baserunner in the first three innings, Elmhurst got going offensively in the fourth. Brandon Kressner led off the inning with a single and then Havel put the Bluejays on the scoreboard with a two-run home run. Later in the inning, Compton singled, went to third when Trey Compton reached on an error, and scored when Matt Wilson grounded out to second base.

Trailing 9-3 in the seventh, Elmhurst made a push. Austin MacMillan started the inning with a double down the right-field line and Wilson singled. Travis Pickard singled home MacMillan and a Kressner ground out plated Wilson. With two in scoring position, Havel delivered again, scoring two on a double to the left-center field gap.

In a two-run game, Millikin answered with another crooked number, plating five runs in the seventh and putting the game out of reach. The Big Blue tacked on their final run in the eighth to finish out a 15-7 victory.

Havel was the only Bluejay to record multiple hits or RBIs in the contest. Kressner, Wilson, and Pickard each notched one run and one hit.

Owen Pulver rode the Millikin offense to the victory despite allowing seven runs in seven innings. Ben Peters did not allow a baserunner in his two innings of relief.

Mason Bruce (three hits), Askins (three hits), and Adam Peters (two hits) all knocked in three Millikin runs, contributing to 15 runs on 20 hits.

Elmhurst starter Justin Luzzi struggled on the rainy day, allowing seven runs and seven hits over 2.1 innings. Daryl Rivera allowed seven runs and four hits over his 4.1 innings of work before Eberhart allowed three runs (two earned), while recording the final out of the seventh. Ben Modesitt was the final Bluejay pitcher, allowing one run in the eighth.

Elmhurst plays wraps up its series with Augustana this Wednesday, April 13 with a 6:00 p.m. first pitch in Rock Island.