The UIS baseball team secured two convincing victories over the Lincoln Blue Tigers on Friday, winning 24-8 in a run-rule shortened seven-inning game and 13-6 in the second contest, which was scheduled for seven innings. UIS improved to 14-10 overall and 8-5 in GLVC play, while Lincoln fell to 2-24 overall and 0-10 in the conference.
GAME ONE | W, 24-8
- Lincoln took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning after a single and an obstruction error, followed by another single to drive in the run. The Blue Tigers added another run in the third inning on a solo home run to go up 2-0.
- UIS put up an explosive eight-run third inning. Ethan Bowers led off with a solo homer, followed by a single and a walk before Noah Caceres added a three-run home run. Later in the inning, Jackson Blemler singled in another run, and Bowers returned to the plate to hit his second homer of the inning, this time a three-run shot.
- Lincoln put up three runs on five hits in the fourth, but UIS answered with 10 runs on seven hits in the bottom of the fifth. The inning was highlighted by a grand slam from Caceres, who finished with seven RBIs in the game. Mark Kattula added a two-RBI double after a pitching change to extend the lead.
- The Blue Tigers tacked on three more runs in the sixth with a pair of home runs and two doubles, but UIS answered with four runs in the bottom half. Bowers drove in two with a double, and two additional runs crossed the plate on wild pitches.
- Right-hander Lucas Kresin closed out the game with a clean seventh inning.
- Kannon Walker earned the win after 2.1 innings of relief, allowing four hits and three unearned runs while striking out two.
- Ethan Bowers and Noah Caceres each went 3-for-5 with two home runs, a double, and seven RBIs. Mark Kattula also had a strong game, going 3-for-5 with five RBIs.
- Starting pitcher Ben Benoit faced the minimum in the first inning, recording a strikeout while catcher Ivan Dahlberg threw out a runner attempting to steal.
- Bowers continued his hot streak by leading off with his third home run of the day, sparking a nine-run first inning. UIS collected four doubles and a single in quick succession before Jackson Blemler's three-RBI double made it 7-0. Blemler stole third and scored on a wild pitch, and Dahlberg capped off the inning with a double to give UIS a commanding 9-0 lead.
- Benoit held Lincoln scoreless through four innings, recording two strikeouts in both the third and fourth frames. UIS extended its lead with three more runs in the fourth, highlighted by singles from Noah Caceres and Nate Bingman before Kody Morton capped the inning with a two-run homer.
- Lincoln scored four runs in the fifth inning. Bowers responded with yet another leadoff home run to give UIS a 13-4 lead.
- Jacob Goss entered in relief of Benoit in the sixth, striking out two batters and inducing a groundout.
- Lincoln added two more runs in the seventh on a homer, but centerfielder Luke Erickson secured the final out to end the game.
- Benoit earned the win, going five innings and allowing just one earned run with seven strikeouts.
- Kody Morton went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while Ethan Bowers, Ivan Dahlberg, and Noah Caceres each went 2-for-4 in the game.
The series continues Saturday with a seven-inning game at noon, followed by the nine-inning series finale.