Chicago, Ill. - On Ed Glancy Field, the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks baseball team hosted the Benedictine University Eagles for a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) double header. With the post-season approaching, both the Hawks (21-16, 15-7) and the Eagles (27-9, 16-6) entered the games with a spot clinched in the NACC Tournament. Unfortunately for the Hawks, neither of the games on Tuesday went in their favor, as they dropped game one by a final score of 19-2 and game two by a final score of 10-0.

Sophomore Tyler Gutsfeld extended his hitting streak to 21 games.

Game One (Benedictine 19 - Illinois Tech 2 (7 innings))

• In the first game of the day, the Eagles got the runs going early and often while the Hawks struggled to get their offense going. Kevin Bushnell got the action going for the Eagles in the top of the first with a 3-run home run to take the early lead. Following a scoreless second inning, the Eagles doubled their lead in the top of the third while the Hawks picked up their first run of the game in the bottom half of the inning. With a Tyler Gutsfeld single through the right side, Jack Friar was able to reach home, putting the Hawks on the board as they trailed the Eagles 6-1. Both teams picked up one run a piece during the fourth inning. Bushnell hit his second homer of the game for the Eagles while Samuel Sproule scored off a Friar single for the Hawks final run of the game. For the remainder of the game, the Eagles would go on to pick up 12 more runs. Four of the runs would come in top of the sixth off a Logan Gregorio grand slam to center field. Then, in the top of the seventh, the final 3-runs of the game were scored for the Eagles off a David Rubin home run to left field. At the end of game one, the Hawks fell to the Eagles 19-2. 

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Tyler Gutsfeld - 2-for-5 with 1 RBI

• Jack Friar - 2-for-3 with 1 RBI and 1 run

Eagles Standouts

• Kevin Bushnell - 3-for-3 with 2 home runs, a double, 4 RBI's, and 5 runs

• Logan Gregorio - 2-for-4 with a home run, 6 RBI's, and 2 runs

• David Rubin - 1-for-4 with a home run, 3 RBI's, and 1 run

• DeShawnte Carraway - 2-for-5 with a home run, 3 RBI's, and 1 run 

• Austin Pizer - Winning pitcher with 5.2 innings pitched. Allowed just 2 runs of 7 hits while striking out 5

Game Two (Benedictine 10 - Illinois Tech 0 (7 Innings))

• The visiting Eagles started game two of the day where they left off with a 7-run first inning to take the lead. Kevin Bushnell brought in the first set of runs with a 3-run home run. After a line-out, Brennan Fisher hit a solo home run to right field. At the end of the first inning, the Eagles held a 7-0 lead that would last through four innings. In the top of the fifth, the Eagles extended their lead by one run. Then, in the top of the sixth, the Eagles sealed their victory with a Fisher 2-run home run to right field, giving the Eagles their 10-0 victory. 

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Tyler Gutsfeld - 1-for-3

• Connor Blake - 1-for-3

• Michael Lindenmuth - 1-for-3

• Jack Friar - 1-for-3

Eagles Standouts

• Brennan Fisher - 2-for-4 with 2 home runs, 3 RBI's, and 2 runs

• Kevin Bushnell - 3-for-4 with a home run, 3 RBI's, and 2 runs

• Justin Nonnenmann - 3-for-4 with a home run, 1 RBI and 2 runs

• Conner Kendall - Winning pitcher with 4.0 innings pitched. Allowed just 4 hits while striking out 6

Up Next

The Hawks will host their final regular season series on Friday, May 3. In the regular season finale, the Hawks will take on the Dominican University Stars for a senior day NACC double header. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12:00 PM. After the game the Hawks will celebrate their five seniors.