R-H / IWU BOX SCORE; CONCORDIA / ALMA BOX SCORE
R-H / CONCORDIA BOX SCORE; ALMA / IWU BOX SCORE
TERRE HAUTE, IND. --
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology defeated Illinois Wesleyan 7-3
and fell to Concordia Chicago 18-5 to open the Rose-Hulman Baseball
Invitational in Terre Haute on Saturday.
In other action on Saturday, Concordia Chicago defeated Alma 10-6 at Indiana State on Saturday morning, then Illinois Wesleyan topped Alma 11-2 at Indiana State in the afternoon.
Sophomore Andrew Benitez (Mililani, Hawaii) smashed a two-run home run, slapped three singles and had two RBIs to lead the Rose-Hulman offense in the game one victory over Illinois Wesleyan. Sophomore Parker Fulkerson (Terre Haute/Holy Cross University) added a solo home run in the eighth inning for the Engineers.
Other key hits for Rose-Hulman included a two-run single for senior Will Burchett (Mokena, Ill./Providence Catholic) and an RBI single by senior Jamie Weinle (Harrison, Ohio/Olney C.C.).
Sophomore Hank Akard (Indianapolis/Ben Davis) slapped three singles for the Engineers, with Weinle and junior Matthew Turk (Addison, Ill./Addison Trail) adding two hits each.
The offensive effort helped make a winner of sophomore Ethan Post (Rockford, Mich.), who scattered eight hits with three strikeouts in five innings of work. Senior Ryan Fuller (Fort Wayne/Homestead) tossed four shutout innings in relief to earn his first save on just two hits allowed.
In the nightcap, Concordia Chicago scored four times in the third inning and six times in the fourth to pull away from a tight contest and earn an 18-5 victory. Nick Skala led the Cougars with a home run, a double and three runs scored. Rob Fioravanti added a double, three singles and five RBIs.
For Rose-Hulman, junior Nick Pilipovich (Terre Haute/North Vigo) led the offensive effort with two singles, and sophomore Michael Bush (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Christian) added a two-run single. Benitez, Weinle and junior Bobby Newman (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) added doubles for the Engineers.
Rose-Hulman stands 8-4 on the season and will face Alma at noon on Sunday at Art Nehf Field in the Invitational finale. Concordia Chicago improved to 9-1, while Illinois Wesleyan stands 6-2. Those two teams will square off at Sycamore Field on the Indiana State campus on Sunday at noon.