The Blackburn Men's Baseball Team honored four seniors, as they split a doubleheader with Robert Morris University with the scores of 7-6 Blackburn and 4-1 Robert Morris on Tuesday April 23rd in Carlinville, Illinois.
The Beavers jump out to an early lead in the first game, scoring three runs in the second inning. To start the scoring, Christian Padilla (Round Rock, Texas / Gateway Prep) doubled to score Mitchell Binder (Mt. Zion, Illinois / Mt. Zion) and give Blackburn a one-run lead. Trevor Platt (Round Rock, Texas / McNeil) continued to produce as he singled to left and drove in two runs to extend the lead 3-0. Senior pitcher Lowell Schwartz (Glendale, Arizona / Deer Valley) was in control on the mound as he allowed only one hit through three innings. In the fourth inning the Eagles scored two runs to cut the deficit to just one. In the top of the fifth Robert Morris tied the game with a sac fly (UE). In the bottom of the fifth Steven Diaz (Highland, Illinois/ Highland) lead off with a double and he would eventually score from a single from Binder to take the lead back. The Eagles would not go down without a fight as they scored three runs thanks to a three-run homerun from Brendan Hostettler to take a 6-4 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh. The Beavers were down to their last pitch with the bases-loaded. On the next pitch Padilla lined a ball to the left-center gap and after the ball got passed a diving centerfielder, Logan Presley rounded the bases to score the winning run. Padilla led Blackburn going two of four with four RBI's. Schwartz was the winning pitcher as he pitched a complete game allowing six hits, three earned runs, and four strikeouts. The losing pitch for the Eagles was Austin Whitlock as he allowed eleven hits, seven earned runs, and three strikeouts.
After the first game the four seniors were acknowledged for their time at Blackburn College. The four seniors are #5 Jonathan Stepp (Georgetown, Texas / Gateway Prep) LHP, #10 Lowell Schwartz (Glendale, Arizona / Deer Valley) RHP, #12 Dalton Fisher (Pflugerville, Texas / Pflugerville) P/C, and #25 Ryan Steen (Granite City, Illinois / Granite City) C. These seniors all had a great career and will be truly be missed on and off the field.
The second game was a pitchers dual as the first run was not scored until the fourth inning. Senior Ryan Steen belted a homerun to leftfield to score the game's first run. Fisher held the Eagles in check, as he allowed only 3 hits through four inning. Robert Morris finally broke through as they tied the game in the fifth with a single from Alston Howard. The Eagles would end up scoring three more in the sixth to take a 4-1 lead. Steen lead the Beavers with a homerun and the lone RBI. The winning pitcher for the Eagles was Dylan Murillo, as he tossed a complete game, in which he allowed nine hits, one run, and one strikeout. The losing pitcher for the Beavers was Fisher as he also pitched a complete game allowed nine hits, two earn runs, and three strikeouts.
UP NEXT: Blackburn will finish up a suspended game in the top of the seventh inning tied 1-1 with Spalding. The game will be held at Blackburn College. Start time TBA