The Blackburn College Baseball Team jumped out to an early 4-0 lead but a few mistakes allowed Illinois Wesleyan University to crawl back into the game and take a 7-5 non-conference win on Saturday night in Jackson, Mississippi. It was the season opener for both teams.
After senior right hander Jon Lowry retired IWU 1-2-3 in the top of the first, the Beavers struck quickly. Aaron Moody led off with an infield single, Vinnie Birk advanced Moody to second on a come-backer to the mound. Matt Mokriakow then hit a ball through the legs of the Titans third baseman and advanced to second base while plating Moody. After a wild pitch Brock Hill singled through the left side to give Blackburn a 2-0 lead. After another scoreless inning by Lowry, the Beavers rallied with two outs in the bottom of the second. 9-hole hitter Doug Matas doubled over the head of the centerfielder and scored on a basehit by Moody. Moody then stole second base and was driven in by Vinnie Birk's RBI single giving the Beavers a 4-0 lead.
Illinois Wesleyan got back in the game with two unearned runs as with two outs a flyball was misplayed in the outfield scoring two runs for IWU. Blackburn got one back in the bottom half as Moody's sacrifice fly plated Jared Jones who led off the inning with a single. Vinnie Birk then singled chasing IWU John Munyon with one out in the fourth. The Titans escaped the inning but trailed 5-2.
IWU grabbed two more runs in the top of the 5th with one being unearned, a product of a throwing error. After that point the Beavers loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the sixth but failed to score. The Titans scored single runs in the 7th and 8th innings to take a 7-5 lead. The Beavers placed two runners on in the bottom of the 9th on two IWU errors but couldn't get the hit to tie the game.
"We really competed well tonight with a bunch of energy but we gave them a couple innings with extra outs and they took advantage of those opportunities which is what a good team will do," said Blackburn Coach Mike Neal. "We take away some positives from tonight including a gritty performance by senior Jon Lowry who gave us five strong innings," added Neal.
For Blackburn, Vinnie Birk had three hits, Moody and Matas had two apiece for Blackburn which finished with ten hits but unfortunately none after the sixth inning.
The two teams will return to action in a 3 p.m. doubleheader. Senior right-hander Jacob Baalman will start for Blackburn in game one followed by freshman right-hander Tyler Morgan in the nitecap.