The Big Blue baseball team defeated North Park University 12-2 on May 8 in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin baseball tournament, securing a spot in the championship game. The contest, delayed by rain and starting at 7:34 PM instead of its scheduled time, saw Millikin take an early lead and maintain control throughout.
This victory puts Millikin one win away from claiming the conference title, highlighting their strong performance during postseason play. The team will next face either Carthage or North Park for the championship.
Millikin opened scoring in the second inning when Mick Niebrugge crossed home plate on a sacrifice fly by Anderson Decker. They continued to build their lead with runs in each of the following innings, including an inside-the-park home run by Gage Reynolds in the fifth. In total, Millikin scored at least one run in five consecutive innings and added six more runs in a decisive eighth inning.
On defense, pitcher Matt Brummer earned his sixth win of the season after striking out seven batters over five innings. Relievers Nolan Reiman and Gavin Houchins contributed solid performances to close out the game.
Decker went two-for-three at bat while Reynolds was two-for-four. The team’s consistent offense and strong pitching helped secure an eight-inning victory under tournament rules.
Looking ahead, Millikin is set to compete for the CCIW Tournament Championship on May 9 at Workman Family Baseball Field. Their opponent will be determined by the outcome of a match between Carthage and North Park.
