LISLE, Ill. – Baseball kicked off the double elimination part of the NACC Tournament Thursday. They squared off with the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks before advancing to battle with the Aurora Spartans. The No. 7 Eagles (21-20) broke out the bats in a 14-8 win over the No. 4 Scarlet Hawks (21-20). In a showdown with the regular season champion, No. 1 Aurora (29-12) emerged victorious over Edgewood University in a 3-1 pitcher's duel.
 
GAME ONE: EDGEWOOD UNIVERSITY 14, ILLINOIS TECH 8
- The Eagles kicked off the scoring in the third. Jacob Carney sent a double to left field to plate one before being sent home by Charlie Tompach.
 
- While a sacrifice fly from the Scarlet Hawks in the bottom of the third cut the edge to 2-1, Edgewood University put together a three-run fourth. Carter Kelley kicked things off with a sacrifice fly to left field, before Hayden Hellenbrand and Carney posted outfield singles to send in a run each.
 
- The fifth inning turned into a slugfest for both squads. Gavin Wesling and Kyle Prindle each sent two-run homers over the outfield fence in the top of the frame. Illinois Tech replied with four runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. A sacrifice grounder and a single to center field tallied one apiece, but a two-run homer of their own helped them keep pace down 9-5.
 
- Kelley erased the Scarlet Hawks gains with a single swing, a grand slam in the sixth blowing the game wide open for the Eagles 13-5.
   
- While two would touch home off of a center field single in the sixth and another with a RBI single to right field in the seventh, Illinois Tech struggled to muster enough offense to overcome their deficit. A Dominic Lee single in the ninth sent home Ryan Harris for the icing on the cake.
   
- Mark Tor pitched five innings in the start for the win, striking out three and allowing four earned runs. Jake Lueptow stepped up late to help cut down the Scarlet Hawks hopes, pitching 2.1 innings with one hit, two strikeouts, no walks, and no runs allowed.
 
- Ben Truby played a pivotal role in the lineup. He hit 4-for-5 with three runs, a walk, and a double.
 
- Kelly earned five RBIs.
 
GAME TWO: AURORA 3, EDGEWOOD UNIVERSITY 1
- The pitchers took over the first four innings, with the squads combining for one hit as Cole Pulliam stepped up in the start for the Eagles.
 
- Aurora broke through in the fifth, a two-RBI double to left field putting the first runs on the board. A two-out homer in the sixth extended the Spartan lead to 3-0.
 
- Wesling stepped up in the seventh with an RBI single to center field, cutting the Edgewood University deficit down to 3-1.
 
- Conner Hogan would finish the night strong, clamping down on the Eagles bats in an impressive start. He tossed a complete game, striking out seven and allowing only four hits.
 
- Joe Lukancic stepped up in a big way with his one hit, a two-RBI double.
 
- Pulliam put together an exceptional start, pitching eight innings. He allowed only two hits and struck out three.
 
- Aidan Kammer hit 2-for-4 with a run.
 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Against Illinois Tech, Prindle became the program's record holder for most at-bats in his career. He surpassed former teammate Joseph Kalafut and his 592 at-bats.
   
- The Eagles have won four straight over the Scarlet Hawks, including the three meetings so far this season.
 
- Wesling's home run against Illinois Tech was his first of his collegiate career.


 
UP NEXT
Edgewood University will play with their season on the line once more tomorrow. They'll battle with the host and eight seed Benedictine. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. in Lisle, Ill.