The Illinois Tech Baseball team traveled to Milwaukee on March 25 to take on future Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference foe Wisconsin Lutheran. The Scarlet Hawks impressed, downing the Warriors 11-7 and 9-3 to move to 8-4 on the season.
Runs-Hits-Errors: Game One
- Illinois Tech: 11 runs, nine hits, three errors
- WLC: seven runs, 10 hits, seven errors
How it Happened: Game One
- The Warriors started fast, as a three-hit bottom of the first for WLC gave the hosts a 2-0 lead.
- The Scarlet Hawks plated two in the top of the third to tie the score, with second baseman Nick Bledsoe and left fielder Jacob Sorenson scoring on an error after both set the table with singles. The Warriors claimed the lead once again in the bottom of the inning with another run to go up 3-2.
- After a run in the fifth by Lutheran, Illinois Tech scored twice in the top of the sixth to take a 5-4 lead, the team’s first of the game. The Scarlet Hawks did not need a hit in the frame to score, as WLC committed three errors and a hit by pitch.
- Starter John Zalewski battled all game long and was able to get out of the top of the sixth unscathed to stay in line for the victory, striking out the last hitter of the frame with runners on second and third.
- Illinois Tech added to its lead in the second, as a Peter Upham single and an error played two more runs after Rybski set things up with a double.
- After the Warriors scored in the seventh, reliever Roberto Carselle tossed a 1-2-3 eighth inning before the Hawks exploded for four runs in the top of the ninth. Rybski (RBI double), Enrique Acevedo (two RBI single) and Bledsoe (RBI single) all drove in runs in the frame to put the game out of reach.
Runs-Hits-Errors: Game Two
- Illinois Tech: nine runs, 13 hits, one error
- WLC: three runs, nine hits, three errors
How it Happened: Game Two
- It was another fast start for WLC, as two more first inning runs in four hits gave the Warriors an early lead.
- A leadoff double by first baseman Ted Howell in the top of the second began a rally, as an RBI single by Rybski and an error tied the score.
- Illinois Tech starter Ryan Cantlin impressed moving forward, as aside from a run in the bottom of the fourth, the southpaw was relatively unchallenged the rest of the contest. The sophomore recorded three 1-2-3 innings the rest of the way and a double-play groundout in the ninth inning to face just three hitters in the final frame as well.
- With the score 3-2 in favor of the Warriors, the Scarlet Hawk offense awoke late. In the seventh, a Sorenson double coupled with an error tied the score. One batter later, center fielder Michael Courtney singled down the left field line to take a 4-3 lead.
- Illinois Tech took advantage of an early WLC error to plate three more runs courtesy of a double by DH Zachary Dickey, a single from Howell, and a single from Sorenson.
- More insurance was added in the ninth thanks to three more hits. This time, an Upham single plated two runs.
Scarlet Hawk Standouts
- Cantlin was a force in the second game, throwing his second plate complete game and allowing just two earned runs to move to 3-0.
- Zalewski earned his second win in game one, allowing four earned runs in six innings.
- Rybski was great in both contests, combining to go five-for-10 with two stolen bases, two doubles, four runs scored, and three RBI.
- Sorensen was four-for-eight on the day with three runs, two RBI, and two stolen bases.
Up Next
- Illinois Tech will play a doubleheader on Saturday, March 31 at noon at Carthage College.