ELMHURST, Ill. – After multiple weather delays to start the season, the Elmhurst University baseball team hosted its home-opener for the 2022 season, falling to Dominican University 15-12 at Butterfield Park.
 
Dominican (13-9) jumped on the scoreboard first, scoring a run in the top of the third to lead 1-0. Elmhurst broke things open in the bottom of the inning, sending nine batters to the plate and scoring five runs. Freddie March singled home a run to knot the score at 1-1. Troy Taller followed with a two-run double and Drew Raspolich blasted a two-run homer to stake Elmhurst to a 5-1 lead.
 
The Stars turned the tables in the fifth, scoring four runs all with two outs to tie the score at 5-5. A two-run homer from Grayson Downing tied the score for the Stars.
 
Elmhurst (8-14) quickly jumped back in front in the sixth. Michael Campanaro lifted a sacrifice fly to give Elmhurst a 6-5 lead. Brett Bishop followed with a two-run homer to put Elmhurst up 8-5. Trey Romay tacked onto the Elmhurst lead in the sixth with a solo homer, making the score 9-5 in the process.
 
Dominican answered back with three runs in the seventh. Matt Galdi cracked a two-run homer and Garrett Wano added a solo shot to bring the Stars to within a run at 9-8.
 
The Stars broke things open in the eighth inning, capitalizing on a two-out Elmhurst error to score five unearned runs. After the misplay gave the Stars a one-run lead, Galdi singled home a run and Brandon Diedrich followed with a two-run homer to put Dominican up 13-9.
 
Elmhurst threatened in the eighth, scoring a run and loading the bases with no outs, but Dominican's Tyler Ferraro used two strikeouts and a flyout to pitch out of the jam and keep the Stars with a three-run cushion. The Stars tacked on a pair of unearned runs in the top of the ninth to carry a 15-10 lead into the final frame.
 
Romay blasted a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to pull Elmhurst to within three, but the Bluejays came no closer, falling 15-12.
 
Elmhurst outhit Dominican 17-13 with Freddie March leading the way with three hits and two RBIs. Romay smacked a pair of homers and drove in three while Trevor Lorek, Paul Fomby, Taller, Raspolich and Bishop all finished with two hits apiece.
 
Joseph Kalish made the start for Elmhurst and took a no-decision, working 4.2 innings and allowing five hits and five runs while walking two and striking out two. Cole Bozzi took the loss in relief, despite not allowing an earned run. Payton Brooks picked up the win for the Stars, working 1.1 innings of relief and allowing just one unearned run. Ferraro earned the save in relief, tossing two innings and allowing two runs while fanning five.
 
Elmhurst is scheduled to host North Central College on Wednesday, April 13, at 3:00 p.m.