Bradenton, Fla. - Going against the New York University (NYU) Violets in a three game series, the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks baseball team took on the Violets in a double header on Saturday, March 16. The Hawks (3-8) fell to the Violets (10-2) 11-3 in game one before coming back to take game two 15-12. For the day, Tyler Gutsfeld homered twice, tripled once, and doubled once, Michael Paxson homered once and doubled once, Connor Blake homered once, Samuel Sproule doubled twice, Timmy Old doubled once, and Michael Lindemuth doubled once. 

Game One (NYU 11 - Illinois Tech 3)

• Michael Paxson wasted no time getting the game going, hitting a solo home run in the first inning to quickly put the Hawks ahead 1-0. Unfortunately for the Hawks, the lead did not last long as the Violets brought in two off a Nate Pallotta double to take a 2-1 lead at the end of the first inning. 

• The Violets extended their lead in the second inning with a Nick Argenziano single that scored Max Oliviera made the score 3-1. 

• In the third inning, the Hawks would record one run when Timmy Old scored off a Tyler Gutsfeld double. Here, the Hawks trailed the Violets 3-2. 

• A scoreless game followed until the bottom of the sixth inning when the Violets Pallotta and Richard Beggy hit back-to-back solo home runs to take a 5-2 lead. 

• The Hawks last run of the game came in the top of the seventh when Paxson scored off a Samuel Spoule single to left field. During the bottom of the inning, the Violets picked up one run when Harrison Blueweiss made it home. At the end of the inning, the Violets led 6-3. 

• During the bottom of the eighth inning, the Violets would record the final runs of the game. A grand slam by Blueweiss extended the Violets lead to 11-3 before a solo home run by Argenziano secured the Violets 11-3 win over the Hawks. 

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Michael Paxson - Went 2-for-4 with a home run, 1 RBI, and 2 runs

• Samuel Sproule - Went 2-for-3 with a double and 1 RBI

• Timmy Old - Went 1-for-3 with a double and 1 run

Violets Standouts

• Harrison Blueweiss - Went 2-for-4 with a home run, 4 RBI's 3 runs, and a stolen base

• Nick Argenziano - Went 2-for-4 with a home run, 2 RBI's, 3 runs, and a stolen base

• Nate Pallotta - Went 3-for-5 with a home run, 3 RBI's, and 1 run

• Richard Beggy - Went 1-for-5 with a home run, 1 RBI, and 1 run

• Mason Morello earned the win with 6.1 innings pitched. Morello Allowed 6 hits, 1 run, and 1 walk while striking out 5

Game Two (Illinois Tech 15 - NYU 12)

• To get game two started, Cam Dunn hit a solo home run for the Violets in the bottom of the first to get on the board. Before the end of the inning, the Violets added one more run off an Alex VanLandingham single. At the end of the first inning, the Violets led 2-0. 

• The Hawks picked up their first run of the game when Samuel Sproule reached home off a fly out. In the bottom half of the inning, the Violets picked up a run off a balk, giving them a 3-1 lead at the end of the second. 

• After no runs were scored in the third inning by either team, the Hawks and Violets put up a combined 9-run inning. During the top of the inning, the Hawks tallied seven runs. Sproule scored an unearned run to get the action going off a Michael Lindenmuth single.With two outs and runners on first and third, Michael Bove singled to center field, bringing in Lindenmuth and advancing Timmy Old to second. A single by Tyler Gutsfeld then loaded the bases as Michael Paxson stepped up to bat. Paxson doubled to left field, bringing home Old and Bove and advancing Gutsfeld to third. Connor Blake then followed with a 3-run home run ro right field, putting the Hawks ahead as they led the Violets 8-3 after the top of the inning. In the bottom half of the inning, the Violets picked up one run off a wild pitch and another run on a fly out to center field. At the end of the fourth inning, the Hawks led the Violets 8-5.   

• In the fifth inning, the Violets Richard Beggy hit a solo home run to make the score 8-6. 

• Then, in the top of the sixth, Gutsfield hit a 2-run home run to right field, putting the Hawks ahead by four runs. In the bottom half of the inning, the Violets picked up one run from a single to center field. At the end of the sixth inning, the Hawks led the Violets 10-7. 

• One more run would be scored by the Hawks in the top of the seventh when a Lindenmuth double scored Sproule. Two runs would be recorded by the Violets in the bottom of the inning. VanLandingham scored off a Kelman single to center field while Ruggero scored off a Conklin single. The Hawks led the Violets 11-9 at the end of the seventh inning. 

• The rest of the Hawks runs came in the top of the eighth inning. With Bove on second, Gutfeld hit his second home run of the game to put the Hawks ahead 13-9. Paxson then scored for the Hawks before Lindenmuth stole home for the Hawks final run of the game. During the Violets at bat, Dunn hit his second home run of the game. At the end of the eighth inning, the Hawks led the Violets 15-10.

• The Violets' Nick Argenziano recorded a 2-run home run in the bottom of the ninth before the Hawks recorded the final out to earn the 15-12 victory. 

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Tyler Gutsfeld - Went 4-for-6 with 2 home runs, a triple, 4 RBI's, and 3 runs

• Connor Blake - Went 2-for-5 with a home run, 4 RBI's, and 1 run

• Michael Paxson - Went 2-for-3 with a double, 2 RBI's, and 2 runs

• Samuel Sproule - Went 2-for-4 with a double and 3 runs

• Michael Lindenmuth - Went 4-for-5 with a double, 2 RBI's, 2 runs, and a stolen base

Violets Standouts

• Cam Dunn - Went 3-for-6 with 2 home runs, 3 RBI's, and 2 runs

• Nick Argenziano - Went 2-for-5 with a home run, a triple, 2 RBI's, and 2 runs

• Richard Beggy - Went 1-for-4 with a home run, 1 RBI, and 1 run

Up Next

The Hawks close out the series, as well as their Florida trip, tomorrow back at IMG Academy. The Hawks and Violets will take the field for first pitch at 9:00 AM CT/10:00 AM ET.