Auburndale, FL – Illinois Tech used a massive late-game surge to defeat Farmingdale State 13-3 on Saturday. After a tight contest through six innings, the Scarlet Hawks exploded for six runs in the seventh and four more in the eighth to seal the dominant win. The victory moves the Hawks overall record to 3-4 as Farmingdale State drops to 1-5.
How it Happened
The game started as a battle on the mound between Illinois Tech's
Cameron Bracewell and Farmingdale State's Johnny Dougherty, with both starters keeping the offenses in check early.
Bracewell was sharp, retiring the first six batters he faced and showing excellent command over his pitches. He allowed just three hits through the first four innings while striking out four. Dougherty matched him, limiting Illinois Tech to just one baserunner through the first three frames before the Scarlet Hawks broke through in the fourth.
Illinois Tech took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning, capitalizing on a wild pitch that allowed
Lucas Waunn to score and Philip Bentz to advance to third. Moments later,
Jonah Wilkes delivered an RBI single to right field, giving the Scarlet Hawks an early cushion.
Farmingdale State responded in the fifth as Justin Dimartino launched a two-run homer to right, tying the game at 2-2. Despite the setback, Bracewell remained composed and escaped further trouble.
In the seventh, Chris McGuggart gave the Rams a brief 3-2 lead with an RBI triple to right-center, scoring Dimartino. However, that would be the last run of the day for Farmingdale State, as Illinois Tech's offense erupted in the bottom half of the inning.
Trailing by one, Illinois Tech capitalized on mistakes and clutch hitting.
Jack Finch led off the inning with a double and later scored on a pass ball to tie the game. Moments later, a suicide squeeze led to a costly error, allowing Josh Minami and
Timmy Old to score, giving the Scarlet Hawks a 5-3 lead.
Tyler Gutsfeld then crushed a pinch-hit two-run homer, extending the lead to 7-3. Wilkes followed with his second RBI single of the day to cap off the six-run inning.
Illinois Tech kept its momentum going in the eighth, tacking on four more runs.
Jack Friar delivered a two-run double. Wilkes added his third RBI single of the game, and Finch capped the scoring with an RBI groundout to first.
Pitching Performances
- Cameron Bracewell finished his outing with 6.2 innings pitched, allowing three earned runs on six hits while striking out seven.
- Austin Schnurr (1-0) picked up the win in relief.
- Alejandro Garcia closed out the game with a scoreless eighth inning.
Scarlet Hawk Standouts
Inside the Box Score
- Late-Inning Surge: Illinois Tech dominated in the final three innings, outscoring Farmingdale State 11-1 from the bottom of the seventh onward. Seven of those runs were unearned, as the Scarlet Hawks capitalized on defensive miscues by Farmingdale State.
- Clutch Two-Out Hitting: Illinois Tech delivered eight RBI with two outs, keeping innings alive and making Farmingdale State pay for missed opportunities.
- Aggressive Baserunning: The Scarlet Hawks swiped five bases, adding another layer of pressure to the Rams' defense.
- Strong Pitching Performance: Illinois Tech's pitchers combined to allow just seven hits and three earned runs, while striking out eight. They held Farmingdale State to 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and didn't allow a run after the seventh inning.
- Offensive Efficiency: Illinois Tech scored 13 runs on 13 hits, making the most of their opportunities. They also worked six walks and were hit by two pitches, constantly applying pressure to the Rams' pitching staff.
Up Next
The Scarlet Hawks return to action tomorrow morning, March 16, as they face Wisconsin-Stevens Point at 10:00 AM, followed by a matchup against The College of New Jersey at 1:30 PM.
