Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Monmouth came up just short in a pitchers' duel and got clipped at the end in Saturday's twinbill with Illinois College falling 4-1, 8-5.
 
The Scots fell behind 1-0 in an opening game pitchers' duel when the Blueboys plated an unearned run in the fourth. Tyler McDonald had opened the game setting down the nine of the first 10 batters he faced, surrendering IC's first hit in the fourth inning. The sophomore retired the Blueboys in order in the fifth and sixth before working out of a seventh inning jam and working around a one-out double in the eighth. McDonald fanned eight over eight innings and left the game trailing 1-0. IC picked up six straight hits and three more runs in the ninth to pull away.
 
Monmouth got their bats going in the nightcap and took a 2-0 lead in the second when Bryson Sheppard – who picked up a 4-for-4 effort in the game – and Grant Myers opened the inning with a pair of hits. Sheppard came home on a Nic Stevens ground out and Myers scored on Tyle Ulfig's base hit. Following a weather delay, IC took the lead with a four-run fourth as the Blueboys picked up three extra base hits in the frame including a two-run homer. Trailing 6-2 in the sixth, Monmouth came back with three runs, two off a double from Myers to cut the margin to 6-5. IC clinched the game with a pair of unearned runs in the ninth for the sweep.
 
The teams meet again Saturday in Jacksonville. First pitch is set for noon.