LISLE, Ill. – The MSOE baseball team kicked off the NACC Tournament with a bang, fending off the red-hot hosts Benedictine University to advance on the winners side.
RESULTS
No. 2 MSOE RAIDERS – 11
No. 8 Benedictine - 5
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Benedictine (18-25, 10-14 NACC) had massive momentum going into the game, winning their play-in game yesterday and having a run-rule upset to kick off the day. The Eagles used that momentum instantly, putting up three runs in the top of the first to grab the early lead. MSOE (29-12, 18-6 NACC) cut into the deficit as Charlie Claas opened the bottom of the first with a triple to right center, coming in a batter later on a sacrifice fly from Christian Bosque. The Eagles answered that lone run in the third to make it 4-1.
- The Raiders made it a one-run ballgame in the fifth with a two-out rally as Bosque hit one into to left to reach with AJ Le taking one in the body from Camden Hoier to drive both in on a double to center making it 4-3. Teo Greco tied up the ballgame in the sixth with a single scoring Skolmar before with bases loaded, Le ripped one into left field to clear the bases for 7-4 game. The runs didn't stop there as after Hoier was intentionally walked, Kyle Mayberry sent a high drive to right field to round the bases with a three-run blast run, looking to run away with a 10-4 lead after six.
- Claas added to the lead in the seventh with a double to left that brought around Jordan Skolmar to make it 11-4. The Eagles made a slight cut into the deficit on a passed ball in the eighth, but Aagam Shah nailed things down in the ninth inning, forcing a lineout and a pair of groundouts to advance.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
- Kyle Mayberry – 2 for 4, 3 RBIs, 1 Run, 1 Home Run
- AJ Le – 1 for 4, 3 RBIs, 2 Runs, 1 Double
WHO'S ON DECK
The Raiders will face either No. 1 Aurora or No. 7 Edgewood in the semifinal tomorrow at 4:00 p.m.
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