Loggers Hang On

The Loggers got up big early against the Illinois Central College Cougars, and hung on to their lead for a 9-8 win. Austin Chapman was the winning pitcher for the Loggers. The freshman went 7 2/3 innings giving up 6 runs on 10 hits. Chapman was relieved in the 8th by Andy Davis, who was able to get the Loggers out of a jam and get the final out of the 8th, killing a 5 run rally by the Cougars. Cade Sestak pitched in the bottom of the 9th for the Loggers. An error and a soft ground ball base hit had the Cougars with runners on 1st and 2nd, down by 3 with no outs. A big hit set the Cougars up with the tying run at the plate with 2 outs, but Sestak was able to get the final out to help the Loggers escape with a 9-8 victory.

Chase Kuntzman channeled his inner clutch gene, going 2-4 with 5 RBI in the ballgame. Of his 5 RBI, none were bigger than the 2 that came on his 2-run bomb in the top of the 9th inning to extend the lead to 3 for the Loggers, his first of the season. Andy Lopez was the only other Logger to contribute multiple RBI's, ending the game 2-5 with a 2B. Talon File chipped in 3 hits and an RBI, and Dalton had an RBI single to round out the scoring for the Loggers.

The Loggers play the winner of Parkland College and Lewis & Clark CC later this evening in another elimination game. First pitch of the game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at The Corn Crib in Bloomington.