CHICAGO, ILL.—The backend of a four-game series was upon the Illinois Institute of Technology baseball team on Sunday as they hosted No. 8 Aurora University at Ed Glancy Field. The Scarlet Hawks found themselves on the wrong end of 10-3, and 18-8 scores. 

Illinois Tech falls to 9-5, 4-4 NACC while Aurora exits Sunday with a 21-3, 5-1 NACC mark.

Aurora 10, Illinois Tech 3 (Game One)

The Spartans jumped on the Scarlet Hawks with four first-inning runs en route to a 4-0 lead. Illinois Tech starting pitcher Connor Blake found his composure, as he didn't surrender another run throughout his six innings of service. Nick Bledsoe continued his strong weekend with a second-inning home run that narrowed Aurora's lead to 4-1.

The Scarlet Hawks got within 4-3 in the sixth inning when Connor Blake and Brandon Bennitt notched back-to-back singles, and scored off back-to-back singles from Ted Howell and Nick Bledsoe. 

That was all the offense Illinois Tech mustered as Aurora closed the contest with six unanswered runs en route to a 10-3 victory.

Bledsoe went 3-for-4 with two RBI for Illinois Tech. 

Blake struck out seven batters, allowed four runs (three earned) and six hits over six innings before Zac Lis, Wyatt Ronek and Samuel Sproule finished the contest on the pitching rubber.

Aurora 18, Illinois Tech 8 (Game Two)

The Scarlet Hawks held a 5-3 lead after the sixth inning, highlighted by Ted Howell's fourth-inning home run that made the score 1-0. A pair of big innings propelled Aurora as their seven-run seventh inning, and eight-run ninth inning powered them to an 18-8 victory over the Scarlet Hawks.

Howell led Illinois Tech at the plate with a 4-for-5 outing that included a home run, double, three runs scored and two RBI. 

Ian Duke pitched the first six innings for the Scarlet Hawks before Roberto Carselle and Caleb Parks finished the contest. The trio collectively registered six strikeouts.

The Scarlet Hawks will host Rockford (DH) on Saturday, April 24 at 12:00 p.m.