VERONA – The Edgewood College Eagles baseball squad held their home opener at Stampfl Field on a cool Saturday evening. They squared off with a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) foe in the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks. The Eagles (10-8, 4-2 NACC) used a five-run second inning to take a 7-3 victory in game one, but the Scarlet Hawks (7-12, 3-3) clipped their wings in a 3-2 pitcher's duel in game two.
GAME ONE: EDGEWOOD COLLEGE 7, ILLINOIS TECH 3
- After the Scarlet Hawks got on the board in the first with a single to right field, the Eagles offense got to work in the second inning.
Daniel Bentivegna doubled to left field to even the tally, while
Ryan Ambrosy singled in a run past the shortstop.
Dominic Lee earned a sacrifice fly to bring home a run, before
Xavier Schreiber wrapped up the scoring with a two-run single to center field to settle things at 5-1 Edgewood College.
- Both teams plated runs in the third. A single to center field batted in a run for Illinois Tech, while Ambrosy earned another RBI with a fielder's choice to the shortstop.
- A solo shot over the right field fence left things 6-3 Eagles after five, but
Kyle Prindle would round out the scoring with a sacrifice fly to center field as Edgewood College claimed game one.
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Easton Zempel claimed victory in the start with four strikeouts.
Kody Kleve performed well in relief, throwing four strikeouts.
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Brevin Brisack, Schreiber, and Ambrosy each had multi-hit games. Brisack tallied two runs and hit a double.
GAME TWO: ILLINOIS TECH 3, EDGEWOOD COLLEGE 2
- The second game saw two pitchers battling it out.
Drew Lenz and Cameron Bracewell each had strong outings in their respective starts. Bracewell fanned nine Eagles while earning the victory, while Lenz was untouchable at times with seven strikeouts.
- Mistakes in the third inning would allow the Scarlet Hawks to hit the board first. A fielder's choice to third base opened the scoring, while a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher left things at 2-0 Illinois Tech after three.
- Edgewood College finally found their breakthrough in the seventh. A sacrifice fly from
Hayden Hellenbrand to center field scored one to cut the Scarlet Hawks lead down to 2-1.
- Illinois Tech hit a no-doubter home run to left field for what turned out to be the game-winning run in the top of the ninth. Bentivegna's sacrifice fly to right field scored Brisack in the bottom of the ninth, but the Scarlet Hawks closer Austin Richardson clinched the game and a save by catching a hard line drive right at the pitcher's mound.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Eagles hold a 10-4 series lead over the Scarlet Hawks. The loss in game two snapped a seven-game winning streak in the series for Edgewood College.
- The seven strikeouts in game two were a career best for Lenz.
UP NEXT
The Eagles will take the next two days off before hitting the road for more NACC action. They will head to Fond Du Lac, Wis. to battle with the Marian Sabres. First pitch in the doubleheader is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
