2/17/2025 Conway, AR- On February 16, 2025, Westminster College's baseball team played a doubleheader against Millikin University in Conway, Arkansas, facing a tough loss in the first game before bouncing back to secure a victory in the second.
In Game One, Westminster struggled both offensively and defensively, ultimately falling 15-4 to Millikin. Despite a solid effort from the Blue Jays, they were unable to keep up with Millikin's explosive offense, which tallied 14 hits and capitalized on several scoring opportunities. The Blue Jays were able to get on the scoreboard in the third inning thanks to a sacrifice fly from William Crabtree that scored Troy Romero. Westminster added three more runs in the sixth inning, with Andrew Kuehn, Braden Eye, and Sam Alles each driving in a run, but the deficit was too large to overcome. The team's pitching staff had difficulty containing Millikin's batters, with starter Charlie Schweppe taking the loss after allowing six earned runs in 3.1 innings. Despite the offensive struggles, Westminster's defense was solid, and the team showed resilience in continuing to fight throughout the game.
The Blue Jays regrouped in Game Two, coming out on top with a 1-0 victory. Stellar pitching was the story of the game, as Jack Page threw a dominant seven-inning shutout, allowing just two hits and striking out six. His performance set the tone for Westminster's bounce-back victory. In the eighth inning, Westminster broke the tie when Aden Pecka delivered a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing William Crabtree to score the game's only run. The Blue Jays' offense struggled to generate hits but capitalized on the timely sacrifice fly to take the lead. Joshua Escobedo entered in relief and closed the game with two hitless innings, striking out three and securing the save. The pitching staff combined for nine strikeouts in the game, while the defense was flawless, turning a key double play and maintaining composure throughout. Despite a strong start from Millikin, the Blue Jays' pitching and defense held firm, securing their first win of the season.
Overall, Westminster's performance in the second game demonstrated their resilience, with strong pitching and timely defense leading them to a shutout victory. Though the first game was a difficult loss, the Blue Jays showed significant improvement in Game Two, proving they can compete when they play to their strengths.
Westminster will look to carry this momentum into their home opener this weekend, where they will play six games over three days, facing off against Loras and Central Iowa.
