VIRDEEN, Ill. - The Elmhurst University baseball team opened its 2022 season by sweeping a doubleheader from Blackburn University. The Bluejays won the opener 10-0 and took game two 5-4.
ELMHURST 10, BLACKBURN 0 - Elmhurst scored early and often, banging out 18 hits in the season-opening victory over the Beavers.
The Bluejays plated three runs in the top of the first, scoring on an RBI single from
Paul Fomby, a run-scoring triple from
Freddie March and a RBI single from
Zachary Hafner. March cracked a solo homer in the third to put the Bluejays in front 4-0.
Elmhurst added three runs in the fifth and tacked on three more runs in the sixth to cruise to the 10-run victory in seven innings.
Hafner finished with four singles while scoring two runs and knocking in two.
Drew Raspolich added three hits, including two doubles. He drove in two runs in the victory. March added three hits, scored three runs and drove in two.
Jesse James also finished with two hits and drove in two.
Jaysn Miller made the start and earned the win, working 5.2 scoreless innings and allowing just two hits. He did not allow a walk while fanning five.
J.T. Oie and
Malek Mostafa pitched 0.2 innings apiece while they each struck out a batter.
ELMHURST 5, BLACKBURN 4 - Elmhurst finished the sweep of the Beavers with a 5-4 win in game two.
Brett Bishop cracked a solo homer in the third to start the scoring for Elmhurst. March drove in a run with a RBI double in the fifth to pout Elmhurst up 2-0. Blackburn plated two runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie the score at 2-2. Elmhurst moved back in front on a RBI single from Hafner in the seventh, but the Beavers took their first lead of the day with two runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Elmhurst reclaimed the lead in the top of the eight. An RBI groundout from
Jonathan Mays tied the score and
Troy Taller delivered the game-winning with two outs.
Taller and Hafner finished with two hits apiece to pace the Bluejays at the plate.
Elmhurst plays a three-game series with Grinnell College in Jacksonville, Ill. on March 5-6.