RANTOUL, Ill. – Elmhurst Baseball kicked off the 2026 season over the weekend, splitting a four-game series with Wisconsin-Platteville, Wisconsin Lutheran, and Beloit (Wisc.).

Game 1
Wisconsin-Platteville 8, Elmhurst 3
W: Stanton • L: Boyles (0-1) • Sv: Schimmel

The Pioneers would strike first with runs in the 1st and 2nd innings, before the Bluejays broke through in the top of the 5th. Three singles and an error to lead off the frame was capped by Evan Johnson's bases-loaded RBI single to center, bringing home Ryder Johnson for the first run of the season.

Platteville would respond with a run in the bottom half of the inning to push their lead back to two, but back-to-back doubles from Zach Konrad and Tommy Wichgers in the 6th closed the gap again for the Jays. The rally was short-lived, as the Pioneers posted three runs in the 6th and two more in the 7th to pull away. Timothy O'Connell would collect and RBI single in the 9th to finish out the scoring for Elmhurst.

Four Bluejays would each record two base hits in the season opener; Evan Johnson and Rock Smith both reached base three times, going a combined 1-for-5 with five walks in the game.

Game 2
Elmhurst 10, Wisconsin-Platteville 9
W: Fraga (1-0) • L: Chappell
HR: Nieves (1)

After Platteville would post a seven-run top of the 1st, the Bluejays responded with a rally in the bottom half of the inning. A. Nieves would highlight the frame with a bases-loaded two-run single, scoring O'Connell and Smith as Elmhurst scored four runs. The Jays would take the lead in the 2nd, with back-to-back doubles from Evan Johnson and Smith, along with a three-run home run from Nieves to put Elmhurst in front, 8-7.

Jack Krueger would post five shutout innings, before the Pioneers tied the game with a solo shot in the top of the 7th. Platteville would reclaim the lead with another run in the 8th, but the damage would be limited as the Bluejays escaped with the bases loaded.

In the bottom of the 9th, Konrad and Colin Adams would set the table with a pair of one-out singles, and the bases would be loaded after Javier Cervantes was hit by a pitch. Ryder Johnson would give the Jays their first win of the season in walk-off fashion, with a single to left that brought home two runs for the 10-9 win.

Nieves led the way with five RBI in the win, with four Bluejays collecting two hits in the game. Marty Fraga picked up the win, pitching the final 1.2 innings without a hit allowed.

Game 3
Elmhurst 7, Wisconsin Lutheran 5
W: Conway (1-0) • Rintelman • Sv: Fraga (1)
HR: Smith (1)

Elmhurst struck early in the top of the 1st, after a double from Evan Johnson and an RBI groundout from O'Connell that brought home Vercruysse. Wisconsin Lutheran answered in the bottom half of the frame with two runs to take their first lead of the day.

In the 4th inning, an error would allow Nieves to score the game-tying run, and Ryder Johnson's RBI single scored L. Bryant to give the Jays the 3-2 advantage. Again the Warriors rallied in the bottom of the 4th, tying the game with a two-out RBI single.

Again in the 5th, Elmhurst would score a run just to see WLC even the score in their at-bat, with Smith hitting a solo home run before an RBI single tied the game at 4-4. A sac fly in the bottom of the 6th gave the Warriors the lead again, before another 9th inning rally from the Jays.

The first two batters would get aboard, on a leadoff single from Ryder Johnson, and an error that allowed Brett Vercruysse to reach base. Evan Johnson doubled to drive in a run, and Smith's groundout scored Vercrusse give Elmhurst the lead at 6-5. An insurance run came home on Nieves' two-out single up the middle, and Fraga earned the save with a perfect bottom of the 9th.

Smith led the Jays at the plate with two RBI, finishing 2-for-5 with a run scored and home run. The Elmhurst bullpen had a strong performance, as the combination of Fox Weymouth, Michael Conway, and Fraga combined for four innings pitched with just one run allowed and six strikeouts.

Game 4
Beloit 8, Elmhurst 3
W: Tiegs • L: Nieves (0-1) • Sv: Wright

Beloit jumped out to a 7-0 lead after posting five runs in the top of the 2nd, and two more in the 4th. Elmhurst would get on the board in the bottom of the 6th, after a leadoff single from O'Connell, and an RBI double from Nieves.

In the 7th inning, leadoff singles from Fraga and Vercruysse set the table for Smith's sac fly; two runs would score on the play after a Beloit error, cutting the deficit to 7-3, but the Bluejays were unable to generate any more at the plate in the final innings.

O'Connell posted the team's first three-hit performance of the season, going 3-for-5 with three singles and a run scored. Charlie Hoeper had a solid outing in relief, throwing two innings without a run allowed and picking up four strikeouts.

The Bluejays are back in action next weekend, when they travel to West Lafayette, Ind. for a four-game set with Illinois Tech and Wooster (Ohio) on Friday and Saturday, Mar. 7-8.