Weather forced a change in travel plans, but the Benedictine University baseball team was able to open the season with a split of games at Millikin on Monday.
GAME ONE: MILLIKIN 11, BENEDICTINE 3
Benedictine opened the season by striking quickly, but the hosts scored in three consecutive innings in the middle portion of the game to take the opener in what was Millikin's third game.
Zach Fell led off the game with a single before reaching third on a wild pitch and a passed ball. Fell scored the first run of the game and the year on a groundout from
Nic Castrovillari. The hosts scored in each of the next three innings to lead 3-2 after
Brennan Fisher homered in the third. Five runs in the sixth allowed to hosts, who will play Benedictine again in a few weeks, to pull away. The final run for Benedictine came in the eighth when
Patrick Nelson scored on a wild pitch.
Conner Kendall allowed just one earned run in four innings but suffered the loss on the mound. Fisher paced a seven-hit attack with three hits while Fell tallied a pair. Eight players reached in the loss.
GAME TWO: BENEDICTINE 5, WEBSTER 0
In a contest that has become an early season affair with postseason ramifications Benedictine bounced back as two pitchers combined on a three-hit shutout.
CJ Jensik tossed six blank innings, allowing just two hits with three walks and six strikeouts.
Austin Pizer picked up following his breakout 2024 season with three scoreless to preserve the win and earn the save. Benedictine scored three times in the third inning to provide plenty of run support.
Kyle Campbell doubled home
Matt Santarelli before two more runs came across unearned. Benedictine put the game away when Campbell doubled home two in the seventh.
Benedictine won the game despite mustering four hits. Campbell notched two and drove home three.
Benedictine (1-1) will head to warmer weather in Florida this weekend for the annual spring break trip.
