Sangamon Sun

Illinois College's baseball team commenced their season with a doubleheader against Wartburg College, resulting in each team securing one win. The games took place on Sunday in Jacksonville, Illinois.

In the first game, Illinois College emerged victorious with a score of 15-5 over eight innings. Nolan Decker initiated the scoring for the Blueboys with an RBI single in the first inning. The teams exchanged runs until Tyler Barker hit a double in the sixth inning, giving Illinois College a 5-3 lead that they maintained for the rest of the game. Decker further extended the lead with a grand slam to left-center field, contributing significantly to the team's win by driving in seven runs on three hits and a walk. Andrew Wieneke was credited with the win after pitching two innings of relief following Jack McGuire's strong start, which included nine strikeouts over five innings.

The second game saw Wartburg taking an early lead and maintaining it throughout, ending with a 12-4 victory over seven innings. Zach Walton's two-run home run set the tone for Wartburg. Despite having only eight hits, they effectively used walks to sustain their advantage. Adam Passmore led Illinois College's offense with two hits and two RBIs, while Louie Bartletti added a triple and scored three runs.

The second game concluded early due to darkness.

Looking ahead, Illinois College is scheduled to play at Greenville University on Wednesday before heading to Florida for spring break.