Blackburn Falls Late at Illinois Wesleyan

BLOOMINGTON, IL -- Blackburn College Baseball visited Illinois Wesleyan University in nonconference action Tuesday evening and held a lead in the eighth inning, but the regional power scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to win 9-8. 

The Titans held an early 3-0 lead but Blackburn took a lead in the fifth inning. Senior RJ Arredondo and junior Omar Claudio walked to open the inning and advanced to third and second on a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Diego Perez. Senior Ian Sullivan came up next and singled to the outfield to score Arredondo. After junior Harley Carney walked, senior Andrew Lozano answered a pitching change with a double which scored both Sullivan and Claudio to tie the score. During the next at bat, junior Royce Congi knocked in Lozano and Carney which put BC ahead 5-3. 

IWU tied it at 5-5 with two runs in their fifth and added two more in their sixth, making it 7-5. The Beavers responded in the top of the seventh and took back the lead. Congi came up with bases loaded, with sophomore Diego Perez getting on from a double along with Sullivan and Lozano on as well. Congi then doubled down the left field line which scored Carney and Sullivan to tie it. Lozano gave the team the lead by scoring on a sacrifice fly from senior C.J. Brunaugh.  

Unfortunately, the hosts scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth, and BC was unable to score in the ninth to give IWU a 9-8 win. 

The Beavers will return home and finish their season on Saturday when they honor their seniors in a St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader with Greenville College.