Tucson, Ariz. – Illinois Tech baseball won both games of the final day of the spring trip against Macalester College of Minnesota. The finals were 6-5 and 5-3 respectively. The Hawks scored 6 runs on 9 hits with one defensive error in the game. Game two was almost identical with 5 runs off 9 hits and one defensive error. Tech is now on a 4-game winning streak to take the overall record to 6-2. This completes the spring trip for IIT and it is the best result in recent memory. Assistant Coach Garrett Neilson added, "The buzz around this team with this hot start has not been present since 2005 when the Hawks spent one week in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Top 25 Coaches Poll."

Game 1

The pitching combo of James Tarala (SO, Crown Point, Ind.), Cory Winiecki (SO, Des Plaines, Ill.) and Michael Malfeo (SR, Orland Park, Ill.) was the answer for the Hawks. Tarala went 4.2 innings spreading out 7 hits, allowing 4 runs (all earned) on 4 walks and 2 strikeouts. Tarala was the pitcher of record for his first win on the season. Winiecki went the next 1.1 innings with 2 hits with 1 run (earned). Malfeo went the final 1.0 innings grabbing the save for the second of his season. Michael only allowed one baserunner resulting from one hit.  

The offense in game one was driven by Malfeo's 1 hit, 1 hit by pitch, 2 runs driven in, and 2 runs scored. Also Brian Colon (JR, Carolina, PR) had 2 hits, 1 run batted in and 2 runs scored. Sam Pung (JR, Ludington, Mich.) and Kyle Bumpass (SO, Crete, Ill.) each had 2 hits, while Pung added 2 runs batted in to his line. Austin Boos (JR, Indianapolis, Ind.) and William Cronin (SR, Orland Park, Ill.) had one hit apiece and one run scored by each.

Game 2

The second game was much of the same for the Hawks. Solid defense, making quality pitches when needed and timely hitting got the job done for the 5-3 win. Alex Babusci (SR, Park Ridge, Ill.) went 3-3 with a double; a run scored and added a sacrifice bunt too. Austin Boos had another 2 hit game and a run scored. Jan Timpe (FR, Bentonville, Ark.) made the start going 2.2 innings allowing 3 hits, 2 runs (1 earned) with 3 walks and one strikeout. Andrew Lamkin (FR, Washington, Mich.) was first up in the bullpen going 1.2 innings allowing no hits and one run, on 2 walks and one strikeout. Kyle Bumpass (SO, Crete, Ill.) went the next 1.2 innings allowing no base runners with 3 strikeouts. And last but not least Michael Malfeo secured his third save of the season and second in as many games.