Jacksonville, Ill. --- Opening day for the Blackburn College baseball team finally arrived on Thursday afternoon. Although it didn't feel like baseball season with the temperature in the 40's, the season began as the Beavers took on the Millikin University Big Blue.
Blackburn has been unable to practice outdoors due to inclement weather and it showed during the game. Caeb Schupbach got the nod on the hill for the Beavers. He had a rough first inning by surrendering three runs on five hits. Schupbach then settled down for the following three innings while only allowing two more Millikin baserunners.
The Beavers countered Millikin's three first inning runs with one of their own in the top half of the second. With one out, freshman Aaron Moody drew a walk and advanced to third on a hit-and-run single by junior Cody Unser. Moody scored on a Jon Lowry RBI groundout to bring the game to 3-1.
Millikin again scored three runs in the fifth inning as they got to freshman pitcher Kaycee Jones. Jones just could not find the zone as he walked three in the inning.
Jon Lowry led off the top of the seventh with a double for Blackburn as they looked to mount a comeback. After a quick out, Vinnie Birk reached on a bunt single which put runners at first and third. Junior Josh Voigtlander grounded into a fielder's choice to bring home Lowry from third.
The Big Blue returned the favor in the bottom half of the inning by scoring three more runs off of two Blackburn errors. The Beavers gave Millikin ten free baserunners with two errors, five walks, and three hit batsmen.
Blackburn only mustered six hits on the afternoon, two of which came from Cody Unser while Lowry, Birk, Franklin Bush, and Donny Fuhrhop each collected one apiece. It obviously was not enough as Millikin held on and won 9-2.
Along with Schupbach and Jones, three other Blackburn hurlers got some work on the mound: Vinnie Birk, Dan Witkus, and Cody Meyer.
The Beavers will travel down south for their annual Spring Break trip this Saturday. They will play the University of Mobile(Ala.) on Monday afternoon at 2 p.m before heading to New Orleans and playing a three game series against Loyola University-New Orleans on Tuesday and Wednesday.