Box Score KENOSHA, Wis. – The Elmhurst baseball team dropped the rubber game of a three-game series to Carthage College, dropping a 16-8 slugfest to the Red Men.
 
Elmhurst rallied from an early 7-1 deficit to take an 8-7 lead, but the Red Men scored nine unanswered runs over the final six innings to close out the contest.
 
The Bluejays slipped to 17-16 overall and 10-9 in the CCIW with the loss. Carthage improved to 18-14 overall and 10-8 in league play. Elmhurst slipped to sixth place in the league standings, but just a half game out of fourth place.
 
Elmhurst grabbed a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first on Austin MacMillan's two-run single, but Carthage got a run back in the bottom of the first and then broke things open in the second. The Red Men sent 11 batters to the plate in the second and scored six runs, sparked by a grand slam from Reed Hero.

Elmhurst answered back in the top of the third, sending 11 batters to the plate and matching Carthage with six runs. Evan Berliner, Ben Havel, A.J. Compton, Matt Wilson, MacMillan and Trey Compton all drove in runs in the six-run second inning.
 
Carthage scored a run in the bottom of the fourth to pull even at 8-8. The Red Men surged in front on a Jared Knoespel solo home run in the fifth. A two-run homer from Knoespel and a bases loaded walk brought home three runs for Carthage in the seventh to extend the Red Men's lead to 12-8. Carthage tacked on four runs in the eighth to pull away for the eight-run win


A.J. Compton led Elmhurst at the plate, finishing 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. Havel and MacMillan added two hits apiece. MacMillan drove in three while Havel scored two runs and drove in one.
 
Hero, Knoespel and Nick Pierce did the damage for Carthage, combing for nine hits and 12 RBIs between the three players. Hero finished with three hits and knocked in four while Pierce was a perfect 4-for-4 with five RBIs. Knoespel homered twice, drove in three and scored four.
 
Daryl Rivera made the start for Elmhurst and took a no decision, working 1.2 innings and allowing six hits and seven runs. Alex Kielion took the loss in relief, surrendering six hits and three runs in 4.1 innings of work. C.J. Casey pitched four scoreless innings of relief for Carthage to earn the win.
 
Elmhurst hosts Wheaton College on Friday, April 28.
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