ELMHURST, Ill. - The Elmhurst University baseball won their first College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) series of the season, defeating Illinois Wesleyan in games one and three both in Elmhurst and Bloomington.

The Bluejays (12-13, 4-5 CCIW) took game one of the series in Bloomington, Ill. on Friday, a 7-6 victory in the opener of a doubleheader. The Titans (10-17, 4-5 CCIW) took game two in the second leg of Friday's doubleheader by a score of 5-11, and shifted the series to Butterfield Park on Saturday, April 15, where the Bluejays earned an 11-3 victory.

In Friday's series opener, the Bluejays mashed 12 total hits, including a trio of home runs, and outlasted a late ninth-inning rally from the Titans to grab the series opener. Trey Romay knocked a pair of solo home runs in the game, while Troy Taller added a three-RBI shot to left-center field and totaled four RBI's in the game. On the mound, J.D. Knight earned his second victory of the season after pitching seven innings for the Bluejays and giving up four runs, while Logan Leach earned the third save of the season after recording the last out with runners on second and third.

Game two of the series saw a 5-11 defeat for the Bluejays, where the bats were alive early but could not keep up with Illinois Wesleyan. Taller made it back-to-back games with a home run in the fifth inning, while Romay continued his tear with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate which included a triple. On the mound, Eric Zbinden dropped to 1-2 on the season after giving up six runs across 4.1 innings pitched. 

With the series shifting to Elmhurst for Saturday's finale, the Bluejays got working at the plate early and often, with familiar leaders from the previous two games. Taller hit yet another home run, a three-run shot in the seventh inning, bringing his total on the season to a team-leading seven home runs. Jessee James contributed three RBI for Elmhurst as well, while Drew Raspolich knocked in two in a 3-for-4 effort at the plate. On the mound, Cole Bozzi earned the win after seven innings, giving up six hits and two earned runs while adding a strikeout to silence thr Titan bats. 

UP NEXT

The Bluejays are set to play their next six games away from Butterfield Park, beginning Tuesday, April 18 with a 7:00 first pitch at Augustana College.

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