Eureka, Ill., March 22, 2021 – The Westminster College Blue Jays baseball team came into Monday's games looking for the weekend series win and hoping for the sweep at the Eureka College Red Devils. The Jays won the series by winning game three (a seven-inning game) by the score of 10-6. They gave it their all, in game four (a nine-inning game), but their comeback attempt fell short losing 10-7 in the nightcap of the double header.
Game 3 BOXSCORE
The Red Devils would jump out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. The Blue Jays would respond in the top of the second. With one out, Bryce McKinnon homered to center field to tie the game at 1-1. Later in the inning Payton Whitehead would continue his hot hitting from games one and two with an RBI single to give the Jays a 2-1 lead.
They would extend the lead in the third inning Derek Shikles would reach base after being hit by a pitch. The Red Devils would record two outs before McKinnon singled and Shikles advanced to second. Austin Mayton then delivered his second home run of the series, a three-run shot to left center that gave the Jays a 5-1 lead.
The fourth inning would see the Blue Jays score their final runs of the game and push their lead even farther out of reach. Whitehead would lead off the inning with a triple to right center. Coltin Green then hit an RBI single to left field scoring Whitehead. Later in the inning McKinnon hit a two-run double to right center. Mayton then hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Green. Ben Parks would reach on an infield single and McKinnon would score as he advanced to third and then would score on an errant throw by the Eureka first baseman. When the dust settled the Blue Jays would hold a commanding lead 10-1.
The Red Devils would add five runs in the sixth inning but the Jays Bode Gebbink would come out of the bullpen and work out of the inning without any further damage. Drew Boessen would work a scoreless seventh inning to preserve the win 10-6.
Whitehead would finish game three 3-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Mckinnon would finish 3-4 with three runs scored and three RBI's. The other Blue Jay with a multi-hit game was Mayton who went 2-3 with a team high four RBI's
Blue Jays starter Dawson Koch (2-0) went five innings giving up just one run on three hits. He would strikeout nine and walk four in getting the win.
Game 4 BOXSCORE
The Red Devils, after getting battered in games 1-3, got off to a hot start in game four. The Red Devils would jump out to a 9-1 lead through seven Innings. The Blue Jays could have packed it in at that point but in the eighth inning the Blue Jays would mount a comeback.
Parker Schnieders would rake a one out double to left field. Ben Parks then worked a walk. Steven Diaz would then single sharply to right field to load the bases. Whitehead would then put a punctuation on his great weekend by smashing a grand slam home run to cut the Red Devil lead to 10-5. Later in the inning Shikles hit his first home run of the season to make the score 10-6.
The ninth inning got off to a promising start as Mayton doubled to lead off the inning. Things would take a weird turn in the next at bat. McKinnon would blast what would appear to be a two-run home run to cut the lead to 10-8 with nobody out. Eureka would appeal to the home plate umpire that McKinnon did not touch home plate. The appeal was accepted and McKinnon was ruled out for not touching home plate and the score would stand at 10-7. Eureka would manage to close out the game with two more outs and salvage a game four win 10-7.
Payton Whitehead went 2-4 with five RBI's and Schnieders would go 2-4 with two runs scored to lead the Blue Jay attacked.
Westminster starter Chase Holder (0-1) went 5 innings giving up five runs, three earned, on six hits. He would strikeout five and walk none in taking the loss.
The Blue Jays will be back in action this weekend as they welcome the Blackburn College Beavers to Saucier Field for a four-game set. Saturday will be the Jays home opener. Saturday game times are set for 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Sunday games are set for 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
