ELMHURST, Ill. – The Elmhurst baseball team upped its CCIW record to 3-2 by taking the rubber game of a three-game series with Illinois Wesleyan. The Bluejays toppled the Titans 9-7 at Butterfield Park.
 
Elmhurst (12-6 overall) scored six runs in the first two innings and held off a late rally from Illinois Wesleyan (11-6, 2-2 CCIW) to pick up the victory.
 
An IWU error in the first inning led to an early Elmhurst run and a quick 1-0 lead. IWU pulled even with a run in the second, but the Bluejays broke things open in the second, sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring five runs. Two-run singles from Tyler Kledzin and Karson Thomas helped spark the five-run outburst.
 
Elmhurst pushed its lead up to 8-3 after seven innings, but the Titans surged back with four runs in the top of the eighth, slicing Elmhurst's lead to just one at 8-7. Christian Ott led off the bottom of the eighth with a double and promptly scored on Jacob McMillan's RBI single. A hit batter and a fielding error put the tying runs on base for IWU in the top of the ninth, but a flyout ended the contest.
 
Reagan McReynolds, Trey Compton, McMillan, Thomas and Matt Wilson collected two hits apiece in the win. Thomas drove in a team-leading three runs while Kledzik knocked in two. McReynolds scored a team-leading three runs while also stealing two bases.
 
John Bosco led the Titans at the plate with three hits.
 
Kevin Johlie improved to 2-0 on the season for Elmhurst after picking up the win in relief. Johlie worked 2.2 innings and allowed four hits and three runs while striking out one. Carter Truong made the start and took a no-decision, tossing 4.1 innings and allowing four hits, two runs and six walks while fanning three. Alex Kielion finished up in relief, working two innings and allowing just three hits and two runs.
 
Elmhurst travels to Carthage College on Tuesday, April 3.