CHICAGO --- In an all-AD3I series, the Sabercats fell to the Scarlet Hawks of Illinois Tech. by scores of 4-14 and 7-8. IIT took the second game (and the fourth of the series) with a walk-off homer.

Dennis Reinhardt and Micah Shepard were credited with the losses for the Sabercats, who fall to 1-14 on the season.

The Sabercats started off strong by posting three runs in the first. Wes Wagner and Caleb Huthmaker tallied key hits in the inning to get the offensive momentum started for MBU.

IIT quickly evened the odds, however, and they answered with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. A double from Jonathon Wilcox drove in two runs, and Wilcox later scored himself on a wild pitch. IIT quickly earned the lead, as they brought three runs home in the second inning to take a three-run lead. (3-6)

Wes Wagner drove in a run in the fourth to make it a two-run ballgame, but the hosts slammed the door on the Sabercats by recorded eight runs in the followed two at-bats. MBU posted two hits in each of their final at-bats, but could not post any more runs. When all was said and done, IIT had one hand on the series sweep. (4-14)

All told, MBU stranded 11 runners in game one. Caleb Courtney, Wes Wagner, and Jordan Garrison all recorded two hits in game one. Wagner was credited with a pair of RBIs.

In game two, the Sabercats started well once again with two runs in the top of the first inning. Wagner and Shepard kept their bats hot with an RBI double and an RBI single, respectively. (2-0)

It took IIT until the second inning to respond, but the hosts came up with three runs off of three hits to take a one-run lead. (2-3)

Shepard drove in another run in the top of the third. Shepard's RBI single was part of a two-run offensive effort in the top of the inning. Despite gaining the lead, however, the Sabercats left their at-bat on a disappointing note after leaving the bases packed. (4-3)

Any disappointment was soon remedied for the Sabercats, who had a three-run showing in the top of the fourth. Shepard recorded his third RBI in as many at-bats, and Huthmaker's well-placed, two-RBI double followed that up. (7-3)

The celebrations would be short-lived, unfortunately, as IIT began their noteworthy comeback in the bottom of the inning with one run to make it a three-run game. (4-7)

Significant damage was then done in the sixth, as IIT utilized four hits in the at-bat to come storming back and tie the game at seven. The terminal damage was done with just one swing of the bat in the bottom of the seventh, as IIT's Zachary Dickey hit a walk-off solo shot to right to seal the series sweep for IIT. (7-8)

IIT's bullpen was flawless from the fifth inning on, as they wound up retiring nine straight to close out the game. 

Shepard went 3-4 with three RBIs in game two. Huthmaker added a pair of RBIs with his double, and Wagner, Garrison, and Adam Courtney all added two hits.

With a disappointing series behind them, the Sabercats will look to a doubleheader with MSOE next Tuesday to try to gain some winning momentum against the NACC regulars. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM at the Rock Complex in Milwaukee.

Catch live stats and audio (courtesy of MSOE Athletic Communications) at mbusabercats.com