Chicago, IL - Illinois Tech baseball is poised for a run as the #4 Seed in the 2026 NACC Baseball Tournament. The Scarlet Hawks enter the 2026 NACC Baseball Tournament as the #4 seed with a solid 21-19 overall record and 15-9 mark in conference play. They will compete in the double-elimination format hosted at Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois, beginning Thursday, May 7.
 
After a challenging 2025 season, head coach Ed Zeifert's squad showed marked improvement and commitment to a shared standard. The team clinched its tournament berth with strong late-season play, including multiple conference doubleheader sweeps, before dropping a pair of games to eventual #1 seed Aurora University to close the regular season.
 
Key Strengths and Standouts
Illinois Tech brings a balanced roster featuring experienced leadership and young contributors who stepped up throughout the year:
 
- Utility player Philip Bentz has been a cornerstone, providing leadership behind the plate and consistent production at the dish (.424/.484/.500)
- Shortstop Jack Friar adds speed and versatility in the middle infield hitting .365 stealing 24 bases and scoring 54 runs
- Outfielder Tyler Gutsfeld brings veteran presence and middle of the order pop with 11 HR
- Freshman Logan Inman, Ryan Fostiak, and Quentin Riepl are all hitting over .300 in the first years
 
Offensively, the Hawks have shown the ability to put up runs in bunches (as seen in late sweeps)
 
Tournament Path
As the #4 seed, Illinois Tech draws #7 seed Edgewood University who took down Rockford by a score of 7-5 on Wednesday. Illinois Tech will be looking for revenge tomorrow at 1PM as the Scarlet Hawks fell to the Eagles twice earlier this year in conference play. 
 
Outlook
This marks the 5^th tournament appearance for the Scarlet Hawks since joining the NACC in 2019. With a renewed team culture, improved pitching depth, and key veterans like Bentz, Friar, and Gutsfeld leading the way, the Scarlet Hawks have the tools to make noise in a double-elimination setting where momentum and timely execution matter most.
 
Coach Zeifert emphasized playing "simple, fundamental baseball," staying tough through ups and downs, and leaning on their family-like culture. If the Scarlet Hawks can replicate their mid-to-late season sweep form and get timely hits and strong outings from the mound, a deep run into the weekend is well within reach.
 
Fans can follow all the action via NACC live stats and streams found on the tournament homepage at Tournament Homepage or through the Illinois Tech baseball schedule page. Good luck to the Scarlet Hawks as they look to extend their season and chase a conference title!