MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- The Illinois Tech baseball team began Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference play on Saturday as the Scarlet Hawks split with Milwaukee School of Engineering at Augie Schmidt Field.

Game 1 -  MSOE 11, IIT 9

MSOE: 11 runs, 11 hits, 1 error

Tech: 9 runs, 15 hits, 3 errors

Game 1 - How It Happened

• Illinois Tech struck first in the opening inning after Zachary Dickey hit a sacrifice fly that scored Orlando Cardenas-Juan from third.

• MSOE responded with a four spot in the bottom half after a couple miscues by Illinois Tech on the defensive end.

• They were not done as the Raiders added two more the following inning after another miscue to make it 6-1.

• There was plenty of game left as the Scarlet Hawks responded with seven unanswered runs including five in the eighth inning to go ahead 8-6.

• A lot of baseball was still left to be played as MSOE scored five in the bottom of the frame to go ahead 11-8.

• Tech was able to get one back but MSOE closed it out for the victory.

• The Scarlet Hawks out-hit the Raiders 15-11 but MSOE won in the column that counts.

Game 1 - Scarlet Hawks Standouts

• Nick Bledsoe led the Scarlet Hawks with three hits as he went 3-4 with two RBI.

• Peter Upham also had a multiple-hit game had two hits and also had two RBI.

• Brandon Bennitt went 2-3 at the 9-hole and had a run scored including a two-bagger.

• Roberto Carselle picked up the loss for the Scarlet Hawks on the mound (2-2) but still impressed, throwing seven innings, scattering eight hits, did not allow an earned run and struck out five.

Game 2 - IIT 7, MSOE 3

IIT: 7 runs, 7 hits, 3 errors

MSOE: 3 runs, 11 hits, 5 errors

Game 2 - How It Happened

• The second game started like the first game with the Scarlet Hawks striking first but this time with two runs with back-to-back singles by Cardenas-Juan and Dickey.
• A miscue by MSOE made it 3-0 Illinois Tech after Benneitt scored on an error in the fourth inning.
• Illinois Tech busted the game open with four runs in the sixth inning.
• Cardenas and Dickey ripped another pair of singles to help the scoring in the inning.
• MSOE tried to rally as the Raiders scored three in the bottom of the sixth to make it 7-3.
• Both teams were scoreless the rest of the way as Tech held on for the 7-3 victory.

Game 2 - Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Cardenas went 2-5 for the Scarlet Hawks with two runs scored and a pair of RBI.
• The batter after him, Dickey also had a multi-hit game for Illinois Tech, finishing 2-5 with two RBI.
• Crossing the dish twice was Jacob Sorenson who had two key runs.
• Starting pitcher Ryan Cantlin finished what he started, throwing a complete game and picked up the victory after going all nine innings, allowing three runs (two earned), issued two walks and struck out four.

Up Next

• Illinois Tech has a quick turnaround as the Scarlet Hawks return to action and come home to take on Edgewood for a doubleheader at Ed Glancy Field starting at 1:00 p.m. CT.
• The game will have live audio, video, and stats, with the live audio powered by Illinois Media School.