CHICAGO, Ill. – Illinois Tech used a huge seventh inning to take the lead in the first game and went on to sweep the Lakeland University baseball team in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Tech's Ed Glancy Field.
The Scarlet Hawks scored nine times in the bottom of the seventh, coming from behind for a 13-5 win in the first game. Illinois Tech then added a 6-1 win in the second game, dropping the Muskies to 10-22 on the season and 3-13 in the NACC.
Lakeland overcame an early 3-0 deficit in the opener, scoring five runs over the third, fourth and fifth innings to go ahead 5-3.
Chris Finn (
Jr.-Mapleton, Ill.) singled to drive in
J.T. Cortinas (
Jr.-Chino Hills, Calif.) and
Sean Gregorius (
So.-Germantown, Wis.) in the third,
Hayden Smith (
Jr.-South Range, Wis.) scored on an errant throw after Cortinas stole second in the fourth, and
Jordan Domingue (
Jr.-Victorville, Calif.) singled immediately after to score Cortinas to put the Muskies ahead 4-3.
Lakeland then manufactured a run in the fifth as Finn singled, moved to second when
Bryce Backus (
So.-Kenosha, Wis.) was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on a sacrifice by
Sawyer Laffoon (
So.-Sheldon, Ill.) and scored on a sacrifice fly by
Logan South (
So.-Oswego, Ill.). Illinois Tech countered with a solo home run by Tyler Gutsfeld to get within 5-4 in the sixth, but the game turned in the seventh when the hosts scored nine times. Quinton Riepl's two-run double gave the Scarlet Hawks a 6-5 lead, and Matthew Reilly later hit a grand slam to break the game open.
Cortinas went 3-for-4 in the first game with a walk, two runs scored and three stolen bases, and Gregorius also added three hits.
Mikey Hernandez (
Jr.-Lennox, Calif.) took the loss, allowing eight runs (seven earned) in 6 1/3 innings with four strikeouts.
The Muskies got little going in the second game, finishing with just five hits. Illinois Tech (14-16 overall, 9-7 NACC) took the lead with two runs in the third and added a run in the fourth for a 3-0 lead, but Lakeland chipped a run off the deficit when
Sam Goodrum (
Fr.-Fort Collins, Colo.) walked with the bases loaded to score Finn and make it 3-1 with one out.
Lakeland had a chance to score more but stranded the bases loaded, and Illinois Tech pulled away with a run in the seventh and two more in the eighth, the latter runs unearned.
Tommy Jewell pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and striking out six to earn the win for the Scarlet Hawks.
Jake Tubbs (
Jr.-Antioch, Ill.) started and threw two scoreless innings to lead a committee of six pitchers covering the game for the Muskies.
Braeden Schley (
Fr.-Luxemburg, Wis.) also made his first pitching appearance of the season and threw a scoreless fifth inning, striking out three.
Lakeland goes on the road for the final time this season on Wednesday before closing the season with its final three doubleheaders at home. The Muskies are at Wisconsin Lutheran College for two games starting at noon in Wauwatosa.
