The Illinois Tech Baseball team split a home doubleheader against Wisconsin-La Crosse—the second in as many days—on April 8. The Scarlet Hawks took the first game 4-2 and dropped the second game 7-0.

Runs-Hits-Errors (Game One)

• Wisconsin-La Crosse: two runs, three hits, zero errors
• Illinois Tech: four runs, six hits, zero errors

How it Happened (Game One)

• The Scarlet Hawks struck quickly in the bottom of the first after starting pitcher John Zalewski set down the Eagles in the top of the frame. Catcher Zachary Dickey smashed a long two-run homer to give Illinois Tech the advantage right away, driving in left fielder Jacob Sorenson.
• Illinois Tech came right back in the bottom of the second with two more runs. Second baseman Nick Bledsoe scored on an RBI-single by shortstop Orlando Cardenas-Juan. Cardenas-Juan scored as well when center fielder Michael Courtney followed up with an RBI-hit down the left field line. Illinois Tech led 4-0 after two innings.
• The Wisconsin-La Crosse Eagles cut into the Illinois Tech lead in the top of the fourth inning. Zalewski walked catcher Nick Roethle after loading the bases, forcing in a run. Then leadoff hitter and shortstop Nick Heili singled up the middle to plate another run for the Eagles. Illinois Tech’s lead was cut in half to 4-2.
• Illinois Tech pitcher Jacob Geiger came in to pitch for Zalewski from the seventh inning on, shutting down the Eagles. Wisconsin-La Crosse only managed one hit and one walk off Geiger through three innings of great relief. He earned the long save for Illinois Tech and gave the Scarlet Hawks a 4-2 victory.

Runs-Hits-Errors (Game Two)

• Wisconsin-La Crosse: seven runs, nine hits, zero errors
• Illinois Tech: zero runs, three hits, three errors

How it Happened (Game Two)

• Starter Ian Duke worked out of a jam in the first inning with the bases loaded. He settled in after that and worked seven innings for the Scarlet Hawks, giving up just two earned runs.
• Unfortunately, after an error allowed Eagles’ center fielder Zach Carney to reach and advance in the top of the fifth, third baseman Brendan Schmitt singled to drive in a run and a throwing error by the Scarlet Hawks allowed another run to score. Schmitt scored on an RBI-single by the designated hitter Brady Stolzman. Wisconsin-La Crosse led 3-0 after the inning.
• Schmitt once again drove in Carney in the seventh to put the Eagles up four runs.
• Wisconsin- La Crosse added more insurance runs in the top of the ninth of Illinois Tech pitcher Neal Shah. Carney once again contributed with a two-run double down the left field line, driving in Heili and Roethle. Left fielder Schmitt then drove in Carney to give the Eagles a big lead and eventually the win, 7-0.

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Dickey finished the day with two hits, two RBIs, and a run scored.
• Courtney and Cardenas-Juan both added RBIs.
• Geiger earned his first-ever save after three innings of strong relief.

Stats to Know

• The Scarlet Hawks left seven men on base while the Eagles left 15.
• Illinois Tech now holds a 9-10 record (1-4 in conference).

Up Next

• Illinois Tech will take on Chicago in a neutral-site game on Tuesday, April 10 at Chicago State. Live stats, video and audio will be available. The live video and audio will be provided by Illinois Media School.