Ryan Cantlin was the game two starter for Tech on Sunday (photo credit: Tasso Manolis).
Posted: Mar 05, 2017
CHICAGO, Ill. - The Illinois Tech baseball team finished up a weekend three-game set with the Eagles of Robert Morris (Peoria) with a 12:00 p.m. doubleheader at Ed Glancy Field. The Scarlet Hawks dropped the first contest 17-7 before a dominant pitching performance by the Eagles propelled the visitors past Tech 8-0 in game two.
How it Happened - Game One
- After Zachary Dickey threw out a runner from behind the plate to end the top of the first, the Scarlet Hawks jumped ahead with a run in the bottom half. Tech took advantage of two errors on the first two batters of the inning, as Johnathon Wilcox scored after a throwing error by the pitcher on a Neal Shah sacrafice bunt.
- RMU-Peoria took advantage of three Tech errors in the top of the second to take a 2-1 lead. One inning later, the Eagles opened the game up with a three-run homer from Darren Raby and then a solo blast by Dominic Johnson to extend the advantage to 6-1.
- Tech, however, would respond with three runs in the bottom of the inning. After Tyler Tucker started the inning with a double followed by a Matt Witkowski walk, the Scarlet Hawks manufactured a run courtsey of a Wilcox flyout and a Shah RBI groundout to second. A DJ Rybski walk then set up a Ted Howell RBI double. Rybski also scored on the play thanks to some heads-up baserunning.
- The Eagles extended the lead to 7-4 in the fourth before plating five more in the sixth, two of which came on balks. In the top of the seventh, the Eagles scored twice more, highlighted by Raby's second home run of the game (a solo shot). RMU-Peoria led 14-4 after the inning.
- The Scarlet Hawks prolonged the contest with two runs in the bottom of the seventh coming on a James Tarala hit by pitch and Spencer Scalzi walk, but the Eagles responded with three more in the top of the eighth. Tech scored once more on a Kevin Hildreth groundout to shortstop, leading to our 17-7 final.
How it Happened - Game Two
- RMU-Peoria's Kevin Ulrich stole the show, stifling the Tech offense and tossing a seven-inning no hitter. The Scarlet Hawks struggled to get much going offensivley, amassing just a Howell walk and Witkowski hit by pitch on the game.
- Tech starter Ryan Cantlin started the game in impressive fashion, punching out two Eagle hitters in the first inning. In the second, Cantlin came close to pitching over a leadoff triple, but RMU-Peoria plated two two-out runs, singling three straight times to take a 2-0 lead.
- Johnson homered for the second time on the day in the top of the third for the Eagles, as the two-run dinger put the Eagles up 4-0.
- Cantlin finished the game strong, keeping the Eagles under wraps for the next 2.2 innings before Shah relieved him. A strong relay from Witkowski to Tucker to Wilcox threw out an Eagle baserunner at the plate to end the top of the sixth inning.
- Despite recording just one hit in the top of the seventh, two hit by pitches, two walks, and two Tech errors led to four more Eagles runs, extending the lead to 8-0.
Scarlet Hawk Standouts
- Cantlin took the loss in game two, but impressed with 5.2 innings pitched and just two walks allowed. He allowed four earned runs.
- Howell reached base in both games, recording an RBI double in game one.
Up Next
- The Scarlet Hawks open up the Arizona trip on Saturday, March 11. Tech will oppose Augsburg at Tucson's Kino Sports Complex (Field #4) at 5:00 p.m. central time (3:00 p.m. pacific time).