The Blackburn College Baseball Team missed a golden opportunity to move out in front in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference East Division, losing a 5-4 contest in 11 innings to MacMurray College on Sunday afternoon in Carlinville.
Blackburn rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the 8th inning as Joey Szerletich hit a two-run homerun to tie the contest. Jared Jones then singled but a failed bunt attempt followed by two quick outs squelched that rally. Jarrett Luckett started and went 6 1/3 innings allowing just six hits but also allowed six walks. In the game Blackburn walked or hit eleven batters.
The Beavers got the winning run to second base in the 9th with one out but two flyouts extinguished that rally. Jared Jones led off the 10th with a base hit once again representing the winning run but another failed bunt attempt followed by a double play kept the Beavers from winning.
In the 10th the Highlanders got a two-out rbi single, aided by two hit batsmen to take a 5-3 lead. Matt Mokriakow had an RBI single to cut the lead to 5-4 with one out but two more flyouts gave the Highlanders the win.
The Beavers out-hit the Highlanders for the third straight game 10-8 but left 13 men on base including the winning run twice.
Blackburn is now 5-16 overall and 3-3 in the league and will host Eureka College in a doubleheader on Wednesday in Carlinville.