Blackburn Baseball split their doubleheader match against the visiting Principia College Panthers, on Monday, April 22nd, 2019. The games took place at Blackburn Field in Carlinville, Illinois.
The first game was a hitting marathon for the Panthers, as they racked up twelve hits total to score their 17 runs against the Beavers. Chris Stamos went 4-4, with two RBI's. Following close behind him was Aleq McMullin, who went 3-5 with four RBI's. Early in the game, after consecutive walks by the Beavers, McMullin doubled into right center, scoring three runs for the Panthers. Then, in the top of the third, after McMullin got on base, Stamos doubled to score him. Will Adler then homered over the right field wall, scoring two more runs for the Panthers. After the top of the fourth inning, the Panthers were leading 9-0. The Beavers managed to manufacture runs in the bottom of the fourth. Freshman Mitchell Binder doubled to lead off the inning. After two outs, with Binder still on second, junior Austin Presley was hit by a pitch, followed by sophomore Christian Padilla being walked. With the bases loaded, freshman Trevor Platt singled into center field to score two for the Beavers. The Beavers wouldn't be able to close the gap much further than this though, as the Panthers continued to string hits together to score four more runs in the fifth, and then two more in the sixth and seventh. Platt was able to spark some life going into game two in the bottom of the seventh, as he led off the inning by tripling into right field. After being walked, freshman Tyler Jackson was standing on first when senior Jonathan Stepp singled into left field to score Platt. This would be the last of the scoring for the Beavers in game one, as the Panther pitching kept them off the board. Chris Stamos took the win on the mound for the Panthers. He pitched five innings, allowed three hits and struck out seven. Junior Kyler Sherrill took the loss for the Beavers. He pitched four innings, allowing eight hits and striking out two.
Tyler Jackson led the Beavers in game two on the mound, in an impressive performance that led to the freshman's first collegiate win on the mound. He pitched eight innings, throwing 120 pitches total. He allowed just two hits, one run and struck out eight. The Beavers were able to notch three runs in the game, which would be enough to seal the victory over the Panthers. In the bottom of the first, after two outs, Jackson was hit by a pitch. Binder then reached on an error. Junior Sammy Gordon then doubled into left center, scoring Jackson and Binder. The Beavers would keep this two run lead through the next three innings, until the bottom of the fourth when they extended it farther. After one out, junior Austin Presley continued to raise his OBP after being hit by a pitch. Presley, who is leading the Beavers in being hit by pitches, advanced to second after Padilla grounded out to first base. Trevor Platt then singled into right field, scoring Presley and extending the lead to three runs. The Panthers remained silent at the plate as the strong pitching of Jackson prevented them from starting any big innings. After getting out of a jam in the top of the eighth, Jackson finished his time on the mound by forcing a flyout to sophomore Steven Diaz in center field. Senior Dalton Fisher came in in the top of the ninth to save the game for the Beavers, striking out the final batter to end the game. Alex Stamos took the loss on the mound for the Panthers. He pitched eight innings, allowing six hits and striking out five.
The Beavers will take on Robert Morris University, from Springfield, Illinois tomorrow, April 23rd, 2019. It will be senior day for the Beavers. They will then take on the suspended game against Spalding University on Friday, April 26th, 2019. All of these games will take place at Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois.