Chicago, Ill. - Picking up their fourth Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) sweep of the season, the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks hosted the Concordia University of Wisconsin (CUW) Falcons to Ed Glancy Field. Behind a career high 15 strike-out performance by Cameron Bracewell, the Hawks (17-13, 12-4) defeated the Falcons (13-18, 8-10) 4-1 in seven innings. Then, in game two, the Hawks run-ruled the Falcons, defeating them 16-6 in 7 innings.

Entering Saturday's two games, senior Connor Blake was four hits away from his 200th career hit as a Scarlet Hawk. With two hits in both games, Blake reached this career accomplishment in the bottom of the fifth inning in game two with a single up the middle. 

Sophomore Tyler Gutsfeld is currently on a 14-game hitting streak, dating back to March 28th. 

The Hawks are currently in first place in the NACC standings. 

Game One (Illinois Tech 4 - CUW12 (7 innings))

• Following 2.5 scoreless innings that included 8 strikeouts by Cameron Bracewell, the Hawks got the first run of the game in the bottom of the third. Matthew Bove homered to right field, putting the Hawks on top 1-0 at the end of the third inning. 

• In the top of the fourth inning, the Falcons tied the game when Jordan Vazquez scored off a Jimmy Joergensen double to center field. In the bottom half of the inning, the Hawks took back the lead when Connor Blake led off with a home run to left center field. At the end of the fourth inning, the Hawks led the Falcons 2-1. 

• Michael Paxson gave the Hawks their ultimate 4-1 victory with a 2-run home run to center field in the bottom of the 5th inning. 

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Michael Paxson - 1-for-3 with a home run, 2 RBI's, and 1 run

• Connor Blake - 2-for-3 with with a home run, 1 RBI, and 1 run

• Matthew Bove - 1-for-2 with a home run, 1 RBI, and 1 run

• Cameron Bracewell - Winning pitcher with 7.0 innings pitched. Allowed just 1 run on 3 hits while striking out 15 batters. 

Falcons Standouts

• Jordan Vazquez - 2-for-3 with 1 run

• Jimmy Juergensen - 1-for-3 with a double and 1 RBI

Game Two (Illinois Tech 16 - CUW 6 (7 Innings))

• The Falcons got on the board first with a run in the top of the second off a Sterling Armstrong double to right field. In the bottom half of the inning, Michael Lindenmuth doubled down the right field line to bring in Samuel Sproule to tie the game. At the end of the second inning, the Hawks and Falcons were tied at 1-1. 

• The Hawks put up nine runs in the bottom of the third inning to take the lead from the Falcons. With one out and bases loaded, the Hawks went ahead when Lucas Waunn was walked. Timmy Old then came up to bat and hit a bases clearing double down the left field line to bring in all three runners. Following a strike out, Old scored when Matthew Bove hit a single, giving the Hawks a 6-1 lead. Tyler Gutsfeld then cleared the bases with a 2-run home run. After Michael Paxson made it to second off a walk and a stolen base, he made it home from a Connor Blake double down the left field line. The final run of the inning came from a throwing error by the catcher that allowed Blake to score. At the end of the third inning the Hawks led the Falcons 10-1. 

• Following a scoreless 1.5 innings, the Hawks added on five more runs in the bottom of the fifth. With his 200th career hit, Blake brought in Paxson and Gutsfeld with a single up the middle. Sproule later made it home for the Hawks after an error by the Falcons. Waunn then doubled down the left field line, sending home Michael Lindenmuth. Waunn then scored the last run of the inning after a wild pitch allowed him to reach home. 

• In the top of the sixth, the Falcons added on four run. Armstrong singled down the left field line in a bases loaded situation to bring in one run. A wild pitch advanced everyone on base and brought in one runner. Cody Maier then singled to right field to score Vazquez. Armstrong made it home for the final run of the inning off a Jack Owens double to left field. At the end of the sixth inning, the Hawks led the Falcons 15-5. 

• The Falcons final run of the game came in the top of the seventh. In the bottom of the seventh with runners on first and second and no out, Jack Friar stepped up to bat. Friar hit a sac-fly to right field, allowing Lindenmuth to score. With the run giving the Hawks a 10-run 16-6 lead in the seventh inning, the Hawks run-ruled the Falcons. 

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Tyler Gutsfeld - 2-for-3 with a home run, 2 RBI's, and 2 runs

• Connor Blake - 2-for-5 with a double, 3 RBI's, and 1 run

• Samuel Sproule - 3-for-5 with 3 runs and 3 stolen bases

• Michael Lindenmuth - 2-for-3 with 2 doubles, 1 RBI, and 3 runs

• Lucas Waunn - 2-for-3 with a double, 2 RBI's, 2 runs, and a stolen base

• Timmy Old- 1-for-3 with a double, 3 RBI's, 1 run

• Alexander Lazes - Winning pitcher with 5.1 innings pitched. Allowed 4 runs on 7 hits while striking out 4

Falcons Standouts

• Jack Owens - 1-for-3 with a double and 1 RBI

• Cole Aguirre - 2-for-3 with 2 runs

• Jordan Vazquez - 2-for-4 with 1 run

• Sterling Armstrong - 2-for-4 with a double, 2 RBI's, and 1 run

• Cody Maier - 2-for-3 with 1 RBI

Up Next

The Hawks will compete in their final non-conference game of the season on Monday, April 22nd, when they take on the University of Chicago Maroons. The game will mark the annual South Side Showdown between the Hawks and Maroons at Guaranteed Rate Field, home of the Chicago White Sox. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 PM.