Judson Baseball Season Concludes in Wild Doubleheader With Calumet College

Elgin, Ill.     The Judson University Baseball Season has come to a close following a unique doubleheader against Calumet College at Hoffer Field. The Eagles, needing two wins today to earn a spot in the CCAC tournament, lost the opening contest 5-4 and then ended game two in a tie 9-9. 

In the opening contest, Calumet jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead. Timothy Ellinger hit a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth to pull the Eagles within two. Calumet added a pair of insurance runs in the fifth and sixth innings to give the Wave a 5-1 lead. Judson then proceeded to rally in the bottom half of the seventh inning. Adam Zeratsky reached base on a hit-by-pitch with one out in the seventh. Alec MacLennan then singled, putting two runners on. Jake Angelo then hit a two-run pitch hit double to pull the Eagles within two. Carter Kotwica, pinch-running for Angelo, advanced to third on a wild pitch. He then scored on an RBI groundout by Shane Bonner to pull the Eagles within one. Alec Spang then proceeded to ground out to the end the ballgame. 

Matthew Johnston pitched five innings for the Eagles as he allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits while striking out three and walking four. Zach Rojas and Jason Klemm combined to pitch two innings of shutout relief as each pitcher allowed one hit. 

In game two, Judson, knowing that their postseason outcome had been decided, allowed several reserve players an opportunity to play in the contest. Ian Gonzalez, Joshua Taylor, Jakob Wals, Dominic Dingillo, Christopher Marlin, Shane Bonner (as a pitcher), and Brandon Callender (as a first baseman). 

Judson scored first as MacLennan hit a leadoff homer in what proved to be his last collegiate at bat. Josh Golibrzuch then doubled and was moved to third on a groundout. He scored on Jakob Wals' RBI single to give Judson a 2-0 lead. Hayden Singley ran for Walls and moved to second on an Angelo walk and advanced to third on a Taylor Abercrombie Fielder's Choice. Dominic Dingillo reached on a two-out error that plated Singley to give Judson a three-run cushion. 

Judson would not score until the seventh inning and found themselves trailing 8-3. Wals led off the inning with a double and was replaced by Johnston on the basepaths. Shane Bonner had a pinch-hit single to score Johnston as the fourth Eagles run. Dominic Dingillo walked, advancing Bonner. Following a two-out wild pitch, Christopher Marlin hit an RBI single to pull Judson within three. 

In the eighth, Judson had a four-run rally. Golibrzuc led off with a single and later scored on a Joshua Taylor two-run shot. Wals walked, and Johnston (running for Wals) advanced to second on an Angelo single. Following a wild pitch, Johnston scored on a sac fly from Bonner to tie the game. Dominic Dingillo followed with an RBI single to give Judson a brief 9-8 lead. Calumet answered with a run in the top of the ninth and Judson did not score in the bottom of the ninth prior to the game being called. 

Jacob Williams started the game for Judson allowing three runs on two hits in 2.1 innings of work. Seth Quick made his first appearance in several months following an injury and walked the lone batter he faced. Garrett Grosso pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief. Singley allowed one run on two hits in an inning of work. Alex Taylor pitched 1.2 innings allowing three runs on two hits, while striking out a pair. Jake Bianco pitched 1.1 innings allowing one run on one hit while striking out one. Shane Bonner pitched the ninth inning as he allowed one run on two hits while walking two and striking out one. 

Judson finished the season with a 10-31-1 record and a 7-19-1 record in conference play.