Skip To Main Content

Elmhurst University Athletics

Events and Results

Events and Results

ELMHURST, IL - April 23rd, 2024 - Elmhurst Right-Handed Pitcher Joseph Ingratta (#46) during the game between the Eureka Red Devils and the Elmhurst Bluejays at Butterfield Park in Elmhurst, IL. Photo By Harry Figiel
Harry Figiel
1
Elmhurst ELMHURST 7-18, 1-6 CCIW
2
Winner Wheaton (IL) WHEATON 10-16, 4-6 CCIW
Elmhurst ELMHURST
7-18, 1-6 CCIW
1
Final
2
Wheaton (IL) WHEATON
10-16, 4-6 CCIW
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Elmhurst ELMHURST 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0
Wheaton (IL) WHEATON 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 5 1

W: Van Hook, JD (4-2) L: Gnade, Carson (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Bluejays Drop Low-Scoring Affair to Thunder

RECAP

CAROL STREAM, Ill. - The Elmhurst University baseball team dropped a tightly contested game against Wheaton (IL) on Thursday evening, falling 2-1 in a low-scoring affair at Lee Pfund Stadium in Carol Stream.

Despite a strong outing on the mound and taking an early lead, Elmhurst (7-18, 1-6 CCIW) couldn't hang on, as Wheaton (10-16, 4-6 CCIW) used late-inning execution to edge out the win. The Bluejays were limited to just three hits and struck out 15 times, while the Thunder scraped together five hits and took advantage of a wild pitch and a clutch ninth-inning single to seal the walk-off victory. JD Van Hook earned the win in relief for Wheaton, while Carson Gnade was tagged with the loss in his late-game appearance.

Offensively, Tommy Wichgers led the way for Elmhurst, driving in the team's lone run with a single to center in the third inning. Calvin Keith reached base twice, scoring the Bluejays' only run and adding a hit and a walk. Zach Konrad notched the third hit of the game for Elmhurst, while Brett Vercruysse stole a base. On the mound, Joseph Ingratta turned in a stellar start, allowing just two hits and one earned run over seven innings, striking out six and walking five. Gnade entered in the eighth and pitched into the ninth before surrendering the game-winning run.

After a quiet first two innings, Elmhurst struck first in the top of the third. Calvin Keith drew a one-out walk and later came around to score on a single up the middle by Tommy Wichgers. The run was unearned, as a defensive miscue earlier in the frame extended the inning. That 1-0 lead held firm through the middle innings, thanks to Ingratta's commanding presence on the mound. He escaped traffic in the fourth and fifth before running into trouble in the bottom of the sixth, when Wheaton tied the game. Noah Yi reached on a double and later scored on a wild pitch, evening things at 1-1.

Both teams were held in check through the seventh and eighth, with Burden and Van Hook combining to stifle the Elmhurst bats. In the bottom of the ninth, Wheaton mounted the game-winning rally. Michael Chang, who had entered earlier as a pinch runner, reached base and advanced into scoring position. With two outs, Noah Husted delivered the decisive blow, singling to center to bring Chang home and hand Wheaton the walk-off win, 2-1.

UP NEXT

The Bluejays host Carroll in a doubleheader this Saturday, April 12, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Butterfield Park.

FOLLOW THE BLUEJAYS

Be sure to keep up with all Elmhurst University Athletics content by following the Bluejays on Twitter (@elmhurstbluejay), Facebook (Elmhurst University Athletics) and Instagram (@elmhurstbluejays), and tune in to elmhurstbluejays.com for the latest news and information. 

Print Friendly Version