The Blackburn College Baseball Team weren't expecting to be back in Illinois on Sunday. Rain in Mississippi sent the Beavers packing up their Spring Break trip a little early. Fortunately, head coach Mike Neal was able to schedule a non-conference game against Benedictine University - Springfield at 10:30 AM at Sacred Haeart-Griffin High School in Springfield.
The Beavers defeated the Bulldogs by a score of 7-5. Blackburn jumped on the board early with two runs in the top half of the first, but Benedictine countered with three runs in their half of the first inning. Blackburn scored five runs in the middle innings which included an inside-the-park homer off the centerfield fence from junior shortstop Brock Hill (Woodlawn, Ill.). Heading into the ninth, Blackburn led 7-4. Things got a little dicey in the bottom half of the ninth with the tying run on first, but Jon Lowry (Peoria Heights, Ill.) was able to get a flyout to record his first save of the year.
Hill and Matt Mokriakow (Glen Carbon, Ill.) led the way with two hits and two RBI each. Aaron Moody (Navarino, Wis.) reached base four times via one hit, two walks, and a HBP while Vinnie Birk (Swansea, Ill.) reached base five times via two hits, two walks, and a HBP. Birk also swiped three bags in the game. Freshman Shane Lewis (Middleburg, Flo.) aslo had two hits and two walks.
Blackburn used six different pitchers in the win. Tyler Morgan (Mt. Vernon, Ill.) earned his first win of the year in his two innings of work. The Beavers got scoreless innings of relief from Dillon Hensley (Bedford, Ind.), Jarrett Luckett (Louisville, Ky.), and Tyler Gosnell (DeKalb, Ill.).
The Beavers now have a record of 2-4 as they go into Tuesday's doubleheader against Lincoln Christian. The home opener will begin at 1:00 PM with the second game following shortly after.