Millikin Baseball faced Franklin College at 3 p.m. today winning 13-2
Franklin got on the board in the top of the sixth, scoring one, but Carder Reich showed out with a diving catch to keep them from scoring another run and end the inning.
The Big Blue bats started chipping away in the sixth inning. Easton Steck started the rally off by singling to the left side, then was plated by a Kolby Koslofski triple to tie the score 1-1. With Koslofski on third, Gage Reynolds stepped up to the plate and laid down a sacrifice bunt to score him, allowing Millikin to take the lead.
In the top of the eighth, the Big Blue put up two runs on the scoreboard. Leyton Ivers got his second single of the game, which led to Pete Britton plating him with a double down the left field line. Carder Reich then ripped one up the middle to plate Pete Britton.
Franklin fought back with a home run to start off the eighth inning but couldn't capitalize further.
Kameron Ross kept the bats rolling with a shot up the middle, and Reynolds walked. Ross was then plated on a sacrifice fly by Julian Cabanin. Ivers also walked and was moved over on a throwing error, while Reynolds scored on the same play. Pete Britton than tripled to plate Ivers. Cribbett and Reich both reach on base from walks and Britton scores on a wild pitch. Bushur hit a deep ball to center which scored Cribbett.
Gage Reynolds walked off the game with a clutch grand slam to left field, making the score 13–2 in eight innings.
The freshman, Joey Ross, started on the mound for the Big Blue, pitching five shutout innings. Ross faced sixteen batters, allowing one hit and striking out six. Nolan Reiman came in during the top of the sixth, allowing one hit, one run, and recording one strikeout. Brayden Sailing came in to pitch in the top of the seventh, allowing three hits, one run, and two strikeouts. Gavin Houchins took over in the eighth inning to finish it off, allowing no hits. Houchins earned the save, and Reiman got the win.
The offensive leader of the game was Pete Britton as he went 3-5 with a single, double, and a triple along with 2 RBI's.
Next up, the Big Blue will travel to Wheaton College this Saturday to open up conference play.
