CRESTWOOD, Ill. - The Elmhurst University baseball team again faced off against Kalamzoo and Illinois Tech Sunday afternoon at Ozinga Field, taking down Illinois Tech 12-3 in the nightcap after falling, 4-14, in eight innings to Kalamazoo earlier in the day.

GAME ONE | ELMHURST 4, KALAMAZOO 14 (8 INN.)

Despite a solid effort from Elmhurst, Kalamazoo claimed victory with a final score of 14-4 in eight innings. Kalamazoo posted 14 runs on 18 hits, while Elmhurst managed four runs on seven hits and committed five errors, which proved costly throughout the game.

Leading the offensive effort for Elmhurst was Rock Smith, who contributed a home run and a walk, scoring once and driving in a run. Joseph Robinson added a triple and scored a run, while Javier Cervantes notched an RBI single. On the pitching side, Joseph Ingratta started for Elmhurst, lasting three innings while allowing six runs on seven hits, including a home run, and walking four batters. Landon Banazynski followed in relief, conceding two runs on three hits across two innings.

The game began with Kalamazoo jumping out to an early lead in the top of the first inning, but Elmhurst answered back in the bottom of the first as Brett Vercruysse reached on an error, moved to second on a passed ball, and scored on Smith's single to right field.

The second inning was quiet, with both teams going scoreless. Kalamazoo threatened with a two-out walk and a stolen base by Lockhart, but Ingratta induced a groundout to escape the inning. Elmhurst also failed to capitalize on a two-out walk by Robinson as Adan Nieves struck out to end the frame.

In the top of the third inning, Kalamazoo extended its lead when the Hornets launched a solo home run to left field. Later in the inning, a single and a pair of walks loaded the bases, and a wild pitch allowed another run to score, making it 4-1. In the bottom of the third, Elmhurst responded with a solo home run from Smith to cut the deficit to 4-2.

The fourth inning saw Kalamazoo widen the gap as Stechow and Moore singled, followed by a walk to Lockhart that loaded the bases. Newland delivered a two-run triple to deep center, making it 6-2. A sacrifice fly from Preissing added another run to push the lead to 7-2.

Elmhurst showed some fight in the bottom of the fourth when Robinson tripled and scored on a single from Cervantes, who later scored on a groundout, bringing the score to 7-4.

In the eighth inning, Kalamazoo broke the game open with a six-run explosion. Elmhurst went quietly in the bottom of the eighth, sealing Kalamazoo's dominant victory. 

GAME TWO | ELMHURST 12, ILLINOIS TECH 3

Elmhurst claimed victory with a final score of 12-3. over Illinois Tech to wrap the weekend up. The Bluejays displayed a strong offensive performance, recording 12 runs on 13 hits while committing two errors. Illinois Tech managed three runs on 12 hits but was hindered by three defensive errors.

Leading the offensive charge for Elmhurst was Vercruysse, who recorded two hits, including a double, while driving in three runs and scoring three times. Smith had an impressive game at the plate as well, going 3-for-6 with a double and an RBI. Logan Bryant added a solo home run, finishing the game with one hit and one RBI. Joseph Michels contributed with two hits and a walk, while Connor Drowns reached base four times, tallying two hits and two walks.

The pitching staff was anchored by Jack Krueger, who earned the win by pitching five innings, allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out three. Nieves came on in relief and delivered three scoreless innings, giving up just three hits and striking out four batters to secure the victory.

The game started with a quiet first inning as both teams failed to score. In the top of the second inning, Elmhurst erupted for five runs. Michels led off with a single, and Colin Adams reached on an error. Bryant then blasted a two-run homer to left, giving Elmhurst an early 2-0 lead. Marty Fraga worked a walk, and after another hit and a walk loaded the bases, Vercruysse cleared them with a three-run double to extend the lead to 5-0.

Illinois Tech responded in the bottom of the third inning, scoring two runs on a pair of singles and a double. Krueger limited the damage by inducing a groundout to end the inning, but the lead was trimmed to 5-2.

Elmhurst added a run in the fourth inning when Smith doubled to left and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Jaden Mitchell, making it 6-2. Illinois Tech managed another run in the fifth inning, cutting the deficit to 6-3.

In the sixth inning, Elmhurst added an insurance run as Drowns singled, advanced on a groundout, and scored on a base hit by Michels, increasing the lead to 7-3.

The eighth inning saw Elmhurst put the game out of reach with another explosive rally. After loading the bases on two singles and a walk, Adams drove in two runs with a single. Bryant followed with a walk to reload the bases, and Fraga drew another walk to force in a run. Vercruysse then lined a single to left, plating two more runs to cap off a five-run inning, pushing the score to 12-3.

Nieves continued to shut down Illinois Tech in the late innings, allowing just a few scattered hits while striking out four batters. He closed out the game in the ninth, securing the win for Elmhurst with a dominant pitching performance in relief.

UP NEXT

The Bluejays open their home schedule this Wednesday, March 12, hosting Concordia University Chicago at 3:00pm at Butterfield Park in Elmhurst.

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