JACKSONVILLE, IL - Elmhurst baseball closed out the weekend with back to back wins in their three games series against Illinois College on the road.

Game 1
W: Dawson Vernier L: Jonathan Boyles
HR: Evan Johnson (1)

After a quiet opening frame Elmhurst took the lead in the second inning with Ryder Johnson singled, allowing Logan Bryant to hit home plate. Illinois evened the score by the end of the inning. The game remained stagnant until the bottom of the fifth, when Illinois took the lead 5-1.

The Bluejays mounted a comeback in the final frames after Adan Nieves singled to allow advancement with Evan Johnson hitting home. Zach Konrad sacrificed a flyball allowing Rock Smith to score. Elmhurst came up one run short with Evan Johnson home run bringing the score to 7-6.

Defensively the Bluejays held ground for five straight innings allowing one run. Jonathan Boyles opened on the mound pitching for five innings, Aidan Nelson provided the bridge pitching two innings, with Fox Weymouth closing out the game collectively striking out 4 batters and allowing six hits. 
 

Game 2
W: Landon Banaszynski L: Anthony Buonaura

After a scoreless opening three innings, the Bluejays broke the ice in the top of the fourth when Brett Vercruysse hit a single to left field, allowing Adan Nieves to cross the plate. Elmhurst kept the momentum in the fifth, rushing to a 4-0 lead behind RBI from Zach Konrad and Logan Bryant. The momentum stayed with the Bluejays in the sixth as Nieves and Konrad each drove in another run to extend the lead to 6-0.

The Bluejays' defense held ground for five straight innings before Illinois College showed life in the bottom of the sixth, with a two-run homer to bring the score to 6-2. The game remained stagnant from there as the pitchers took over. Elmhurst looked to add to their lead in the ninth after a Rock Smith single, a fielder's choice and a strikeout ended the threat, leaving the final score at 6-2.

Defensively, the Bluejays were anchored by Landon Banaszynski, who held the mound for the opening six innings. Logan Leach provided the bridge for the seventh and eighth, with Marty Fraga. Collectively, the bullpen surrendered only two runs and eight strikeouts to secure the victory.

 

Game 3
W: Jack Krueger L: Parker Phillis 
HR: Evan Johnson, (1); Zach Konrad (1)

The Bluejays set the tone early, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning after an RBI double by Rock Smith with Evan Johnson securing home plate. Moving into the second as Tommy Wichgers and Timothy O'Connell each drove in runs before Evan Johnson capped off the five-run frame with a towering three-run home run to left field, extending the lead to 7-0.

Illinois College cut into the deficit with three runs in the third, Ryder Johnson and Zach Konrad sparked a three-run rally with RBI singles, while Logan Bryant took a bases-loaded walk to push the lead to 10-3. Elmhurst appeared to put the game out of reach in the eighth when Zach Konrad came in with a three-run home run, driving in Rock Smith and Evan Johnson to make it a 13-3 ballgame.

The Bluejays' defense and pitchers faced a late-inning surge as Illinois College mounted a furious six-run comeback in the bottom of the eighth, highlighted by a three-run homer. However, Robert Drake entered in relief to stabilize the mound, and Marty Fraga closed the door in the ninth to secure the win.

Defensively, the Bluejay's were anchored by Jack Krueger, who earned the win after navigating through four innings. The Bluejay's batting lineup combined for 14 hits on the day, ensuring Elmhurst moved to 5-6 on the season.

The Blujeays will be back on the diamond enduring week long competition in Florida facing off against, New York University,Macalester College, Depauw Univeristy, Hamilton (N.Y.), Kalamazoo College, and Purchase College.