Ben Williamson
Kevin Krows/Millikin University

Game Recap: Baseball |

Baseball Sweeps Illinois Wesleyan on the Road, Game Three Start Time Pushed Back

The Millikin baseball team traveled to Bloomington on April 19 and took both games of a doubleheader from Illinois Wesleyan, 4-3 and 3-2. The Big Blue pitching staff again shined in the victories, and timely hitting was enough to take down the rival Titans twice on the road.

Millikin jumped on the board in the top of the first inning on a Mason Bruce two RBI single, and the Big Blue didn't trail for the rest of the evening. Bruce was 2-4 in game one with the two RBI. An RBI double for IWU made the game 2-1 in the bottom of the first, but starting pitcher Connor Gross settled down and dominated the rest of the way for Millikin on his way to striking out nine in his 7.2 innings of work. Freshman Frank Bryan ripped an RBI single in the top of the eighth inning to make the game 3-1, and Gabe Soria followed that with an RBI single of his own to make the game 4-1 heading to the bottom of the eighth. IWU threatened in the bottom of the eighth, but Millikin reliever Jared Buzan battled and escaped the inning with a 4-3 lead. Buzan turned the ball over to Ryan Dobey in the ninth inning, and Dobey retired all three batters that he faced for the save and the Millikin victory. Connor Gross earned his fifth win of the year for Millikin.

Game two showcased incredible pitching performances from Millikin starter Ben Williamson and Illinois Wesleyan starter Evan Hill. There were no hits in the game until Millikin broke through in the top of the fifth inning on a Kyle Kane RBI single that followed a double off of the left field fence by Bryan. Illinois Wesleyan got their first hit off of Williamson in the bottom of the sixth inning and made the game 1-1 on an RBI single by Garrett Shea. Shea was 2-4 on the night with the RBI. In the top of the eighth inning again, Millikin added some insurance runs on an RBI single by Gabe Soria, as well as Illinois Wesleyan walking in Kyle Kane with the bases loaded. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Evan Lawrence struck out two of the batters he faced for the perfect inning.

To lead off the bottom of the ninth inning, back to back doubles for IWU made the game 3-2, and a subsequent walk allowed the potential winning run to reach first base for the Titans with no one out in the inning. Millikin's Jack Morgan entered the game out of the bullpen and retired three Wesleyan hitters in a row to earn the save and secure the series victory and road sweep of the Titans.

Millikin looks to earn the series sweep in game three tomorrow, April 20 at Sunnyside Park in Decatur at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN 1050 AM Decatur with Aric Lee and Tony McClain providing the commentary. With the wins, Millikin improves to 14-15 and 9-8 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play, while Illinois Wesleyan falls to 14-14 and 7-7 in conference action.
 
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