CHICAGO, ILL.—The Illinois Institute of Technology baseball team concluded their 2021 regular season with a Sunday-afternoon bout against Dominican (Ill.) at De La Salle Institute. The Scarlet Hawks came through with their sixth doubleheader sweep of the season with 12-2 (Game One /7) and 7-1 (Game Two) victories.
The sweep gives Illinois Tech an 18-8, 13-7 NACC mark while Dominican (Ill.) ends their season with a 10-27, 5-15 NACC record.
The Scarlet Hawks locked the No. 3 seed, and will face No. 2 seed Benedictine (Ill.) in the opening contest of the NACC South Division Tournament (double elimination) on Friday, May 14 at 4:30 p.m. in Lisle, Illinois.
Illinois Tech 12, Dominican 2 (Game One / 7)
The Scarlet Hawks broke a scoreless tie with a four-run fourth inning that was highlighted by Claudio LoBraico's two-run double, and one-run singles from Jacob Sorenson and Nick Bledsoe that made the score 4-0.
The Stars added a run in the top of the fifth before Illinois Tech added three of their own in the bottom of the frame. A one-run double from Brandon Bennitt, followed by one-run singles from Bledsoe and Navarro extended the Scarlet Hawks lead to 7-1.
The Stars made things 7-2 in the top of the sixth before Illinois Tech did damage with the bases loaded in the bottom half of the inning. Ted Howell's single, David Navarro's hit by pitch, and Zack Pacer's single all occurred with the bases loaded and produced five runs en route to a 12-2 Illinois Tech lead.
Nick Bledsoe and Jacob Sorenson each went 3-for-4 at the plate for Illinois Tech. Connor Blake got the pitching win as he allowed four hits and two runs along with nine strikeouts over six innings pitched before Samuel Sproule threw the final inning.
Illinois Tech 7, Dominican 1 (Game Two)
Six-of-seven Scarlet Hawks runs occurred via the home run courtesy of Michael Courtney, Connor Blake (two home runs), Brandon Bennitt and Ted Howell. Matthew Jackson's one-run single in the fourth inning that scored Bennitt also contributed to the Scarlet Hawks' 7-1 victory.
Courtney, Bennitt, Blake and Jackson each went 2-for-4 at the plate for Illinois Tech. Blake's two home runs included two runs scored and three RBI.
Ian Duke got the pitching win as he allowed six hits and one run along with eight strikeouts over seven innings of work before Joe Fulkerson and Chris Harrison each threw one inning.