Big Blue Baseball Goes 4-2 In Busy Week

The Millikin baseball team rode an outstanding pitching performance to a 3-0 victory over Wheaton College on April 1 at home.

Starter Ben Williamson (Farmer City, Blue Ridge H.S.) was phenomenal all night going eight and two-thirds innings while striking out six and walking just one. Brent Beals (Effingham, H.S.) struck out the final batter to earn the save.

Freshman Frank Bryan (Plainfield, Plainfield Central H.S.) hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning to give Millikin a 3-0 lead. Jon Walters (Normal, Central Catholic H.S.) was 2-3 in the game with two doubles and an RBI.

The Big Blue baseball team swept a doubleheader at Elmhurst College on April 2, 11-3 and 24-0. Millikin used a plethora of extra-base hits in both games to defeat the Bluejays and were led by Walters, who had three homeruns on the day. In game two, Kyle Kane (Westchester, Lewis University) broke the single game hits in a game record in Millikin history with six, personally outhitting the Bluejays.

In game one, Evan Lawrence (Belleville, McKendree University) earned the win on the mound for the Big Blue, going six innings and allowing just two runs on four hits.

In game two, Derek Kortemeier (Freeport, Highland CC) earned the win on the mound with his four innings of scoreless work, and the Big Blue staff allowed just three hitters over the minimum for the game.

Millikin split a doubleheader at Carthage College on April 6. The Big Blue dropped game one 4-1, but won the second game 9-1.

In game two, the Big Blue were led on the mound by a nice performance by starter, Connor Gross (Bement, H.S.). He earned his fourth win on the mound on the season, going seven innings and giving up just one Carthage run. Millikin was led at the plate by Anthony Bryan (Plainfield, Plainfield Central H.S.), who was 3-4 with three RBI. Kane was 3-3 with an RBI, and designated hitter Andrew Auton (Decatur, Mt. Zion H.S.) was 2-4. Beals homered for the Big Blue.

Millikin lost the series finale at Carthage 7-6 on April 7.

Walters went 2-4 with a two-run homerun.

Millikin falls to 10-11 and 5-4 in conference play and host North Central on April 10.