CHICAGO—The Illinois Institute of Technology baseball team hosted Concordia Chicago (DH) in the back-end of a four-game series at Ed Glancy Field on Monday. A 13-run seventh inning for the Cougars helped them secure a 24-11 victory over the Scarlet Hawks in game one. Home runs from Connor Blake, Brandon Bennitt, and Nick Bledsoe propelled the Scarlet Hawks past the Cougars 18-12 in game two.
The split gives Illinois Tech an 8-2, 3-1 NACC record while Concordia Chicago exits Monday with a 7-11, 1-3 NACC mark.
Concordia Chicago 24, Illinois Tech 11 (Game One)
The Scarlet Hawks held an 11-8 advantage after the fifth inning before the Cougars tacked on three sixth-inning runs to knot the game at 11-11, and 13 seventh-inning runs to secure a 24-11 victory via the 10-run mercy rule.
Ted Howell paced the Scarlet Hawks at the plate with a 3-for-4 outing that included three RBI and two runs scored. Michael Courtney, Brandon Bennitt, Nick Bledsoe and Jacob Sorenson each notched a pair of hits for the Illinois Tech offense.
The Scarlet Hawks used six different pitchers in the contest. Connor Blake got the start and threw two innings before he gave way to Caleb Parks, Samuel Sproule, Joe Fulkerson, Wyatt Ronek and Ted Howell.
Illinois Tech 18, Concordia Chicago 12 (Game Two)
The early stages of the contest proved it would be a high-scoring affair again as the score read 9-9 after the second inning. Brandon Holifield gave Illinois Tech a 10-9 lead in the third inning when he walked and eventually scored on Brandon Bennitt's single.
The Cougars regained the lead with a three-run fourth inning to make the score 12-10, before the Scarlet Hawks added a run in the bottom half of the frame to narrow the margin to 12-11.
The Cougars wouldn't score again as Illinois Tech ended the contest with seven unanswered runs en route to an 18-12 victory.
Connor Blake and Brandon Bennitt each went 4-for-6 with a home run and four RBI for the Scarlet Hawks, while Nick Bledsoe and Michael Courtney each went 3-for-5 with two RBI.
Ian Duke pitched the first 3 1/3 innings for Illinois Tech before Roberto Carselle allowed no runs, six hits, and registered five strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings of work in the winning effort. The Cougars utilized four different pitchers in game two.
The Scarlet Hawks will return to action at Aurora (DH) on Saturday, April 17 at 12:00 p.m.