The Illinois College baseball team split a four-game series with Grinnell College, as the two teams split a pair of doubleheaders April 19-20.
The Blueboys posted a 7-1 win and a 9-2 loss in the doubleheader on April 19. Nick Visconti had two hits, including a home run, and two RBIs, in the opener. Matthew Pardo and Josh Krumwiede had two hits apiece. T.J. Albers earned the pitching win, allowing just one run over seven innings, while striking out five. Dylan Sunderland pitched two scoreless innings to finish out the win.
Krumwiede collected a pair of hits in the nightcap. Visconti and Zac Schopp drove in one run each. Visconti took the loss after allowing seven runs over six innings.
The team scored a 19-14 come-from-behind win in the opener on April 20, but suffered a 5-2 loss in the nightcap. Pardo and Albers tied Illinois College single-game records as the Blueboys used an eight-run eighth inning to rally back from what was once a six-run deficit in the opener. Pardo singled in his first five at-bats to tie the Illinois College record for hits in a game. Albers had four hits, including a home run and a double, to tie the Illinois College record for RBIs in a game, with seven.
Nick Dalfonso and Dalton Kerans had three hits apiece in the win. Krumwiede drove in three runs, while Visconti, Jonathan Schrage and Austin Peck drove in two runs each. Zac Schopp earned the win in relief by tossing 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Starter D.J. Davis and Chris Irvin allowed 13 runs over the first 3 2/3 innings, but Andy McCarty kept the Blueboys within striking distance by allowing just one run over the next three innings.
Adam Hamerlinck, Krumwiede and Schopp had two hits apiece in the second game. Schopp and Schrage drove in the Blueboys’ two runs. Nick Duke suffered the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) over seven innings.
The Blueboys are now 18-12 overall and 7-5 in Midwest Conference South Division play. They host Washington University on Wednesday at Lenz Field.
Softball splits doubleheader with Iowa Wesleyan
The Illinois College softball team rebounded from a 10-9 loss in the opener to score an 8-0 win in the second game of a doubleheader with Iowa Wesleyan University on April 18 at Kamp Softball Field in Jacksonville.
Paige Cullison, Paige Meyer, Sierra McDonald and Anna Jacobs drove in two runs each in the opener, but it wasn’t enough as the Lady Blues came up one run short. Cullison led the team with three hits. Alese Speckhart, Meyer and Jacobs had two hits apiece. Speckhart suffered the pitching loss after allowing 10 runs over the first two innings. Leah Shumaker pitched four scoreless innings of relief, while Amanda Price pitched a scoreless seventh inning for the Lady Blues.
Courtney Kwasnitza, Brittany Fanella and Meyer had three hits apiece in the second game to key the Lady Blues’ win. Fanella and Meyer drove in two runs each, while Kwasnitza scored three runs. Price pitched the complete-game shutout, allowing just four hits, while striking out four.
Cullison, Jacobs, Speckhart and Meyer were honored before Friday’s games as part of Senior Day festivities.
The Lady Blues are now 10-16. They host a Midwest Conference South Division doubleheader with Monmouth College on Wednesday.
Eze-Echesi sets another record at Rose-Hulman meet
Ofuma Eze-Echesi won two events and set another Illinois College outdoor record at the Rose-Hulman Twilight Meet in Terre Haute, Indiana, on April 18. The Illinois College men took eighth place, while the IC women took seventh in 12-team fields.
Eze-Echesi was best in both the 200-meter dash (25.25) and the 400-meter dash (57.65). Her mark in the 400-meter dash set an Illinois College outdoor record. Chandler Polyte was the Blueboys’ top finisher, winning the pole vault (15-0).
Ashley Roller scored points in three events, taking third in the hammer throw (133-6), and seventh in both the shot put (31-8.75) and discus (108-8). Lauren Aiello took fifth in the shot put (33-1.25) and Lauren Mense was eighth in the javelin (98-1). Tamar Norville was fifth in the triple jump (33-4.75) and eighth in the long jump (15-8.25).
Don Elston Jr. was third in the javelin (156-5) and John Roller was third in the discus (142-10). Allen Miggins took seventh in the 400-meter hurdles (1:00.36).
The Illinois College men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams are back in action on Tuesday when they host the Mid-Week Quad.
Men’s Golf takes seventh at Blueboy Invitational
The Illinois College men’s golf team took seventh place at the Blueboy Invitational on April 19 at Piper Glen Golf Course in Springfield.
Derek Ade carded an 87 on April 18 after shooting a 79 on April 19, finishing in 24th place. Koert Brown (88-88) and Scott Pantier (89-87) tied for 32nd. Christian Walker (93-84) tied for 35th and Wade Mathis (96-88) took 40th. Quinn Wadkins (94-97) tied for 47th, while playing as an individual.
The Blueboys are back in action next weekend at the Scot-Fire Invitational.
Week Ahead
Tuesday, April 22
Outdoor Track and Field
Illinois College Mid-Week Quad, 3 p.m.
Wednesday, April 23
Baseball
Washington University at Illinois College (at Lenz Field), 2 p.m.
Softball
Monmouth College at Illinois College (DH), 3 p.m.
Thursday, April 24
Softball
MacMurray College at Illinois College (DH), 3 p.m.
Friday, April 25
Men’s Golf
Illinois College at Scot-Fire Invitational, 12 p.m.
Saturday, April 26
Men’s Tennis
Illinois College at MWC Championships (at Madison, Wis.)
Men’s Golf
Illinois College at Scot-Fire Invitational, 9 a.m.
Outdoor Track and Field
Illinois College True Blue Open, 11 a.m.
Baseball
Illinois College at Cornell College (DH), 1 p.m.
Softball
Illinois College at Knox College (DH), 1 p.m.
Sunday, April 27
Men’s Tennis
Illinois College at MWC Championships (at Madison, Wis.)
Baseball
Illinois College at Cornell College (DH), 11 a.m.
Softball
Illinois College vs. Beloit College (at Galesburg), 2 p.m.
Cutlines
T.J. Albers waits for a pitch in a game earlier this season. Albers tied an Illinois College single-game record with seven runs batted in, in a game over the weekend against Grinnell College.
Paige Cullison heads home in a game earlier this season. Cullison had five hits in eight at-bats in a doubleheader split with Iowa Wesleyan College on April 18.
Koert Brown takes a swing during a practice round earlier this year. Brown helped the men’s golf team to a seventh-place finish at the Blueboy Invitational April 18-19.
