CHICAGO – The MSOE baseball team allowed just two earned runs and struck out 20 on the mound in playing to a doubleheader split with future league rival Illinois Tech Saturday afternoon at Ed Glancy Field.

The Raiders (8-5) fell in game one 2-0 before jumping out to a 5-0 lead before defeating the Scarlet Hawks (6-4) 5-1 in the nightcap.

Game two saw senior Michael Boehmer (3-0) and freshman Mason LeBreck combine on a four-hitter. Boehmer got the start and tossed 6.0 innings with four strikeouts and just an earned run allowed. LeBreck threw the final three innings for his first collegiate save, not allowing a hit and striking out four.

After not plating a run in the first 12 innings of the day, MSOE got on the board with a three-run fourth inning. The team capitalized on a lead-off error, adding a walk and single to load the bases with just one out. Senior Ryan Newman then followed with a single to score the first run. Two batters later, senior Jimmy Carrington singled in two more runs to make it 3-0.

Freshman Nick Stricker opened the fifth inning with a single and came around to score on senior Max Kemp's single three batters later.

The Raiders manufactured another run to make it 5-0 in the sixth inning. Carrington walked with one out and, two batters later moved up to second on a hit batter. Senior Garrett Willems then plated him with a single.

A hit batter and double two hitters later manufactured a run for IIT in the bottom half of the inning. Boehmer came back to get a groundout and, after a walk, a pop out to end the inning.

The hosts then did not have a runner reach second base against LeBreck over the final three innings, thwarting any attempts at a comeback.

Newman, Carrington, Willems, and sophomore Joe Gilpin had two hits each.

Despite the loss in game one, it was not for a lack of effort as junior Sam Crawford (0-2) was dominant over 7.0 innings. He struck out 11 against no walks while scattering six hits and allowing just one earned run. He's still looking for his first win of the season despite a 1.80 ERA and 21 strikeouts over 20.0 innings of work in his first three starts.

Sophomore Justin Celeski got two outs in the eighth inning with freshman Noah Davison coming on to strike out the final batter of the inning.

Junior Andres Oselio had two of MSOE's five hits in game one, as the clutch hitting of game two was not in place in the opener. The Raiders had a base runner in each inning and put a runner on second base in five of those frames. Unfortunately, they could not advance a runner to third base.

Meanwhile, a pair of doubles in the third inning gave the Scarlet Hawks a 1-0 lead. They were able to tack on an insurance run in the seventh inning courtesy of a passed ball and an error.

The Raiders return to the field Sunday at Beloit. First pitch of the doubleheader is at noon.