Central Connecticut Baseball Drops Finale to #25 Illinois on Tuesday Morning

The Central Connecticut baseball team dropped the final game of a three-game series with Illinois on Tuesday morning, 6-0. The Blue Devils end their trip to Florida having won three of the four games played, including two against the nationally-ranked Fighting Illini on Sunday and Monday. With the loss on Tuesday CCSU drops to 7-4 overall this season. They play again on Friday at Hartford at 3 p.m. They open their home season on Saturday at 1 p.m. hosting Binghamton at Beehive Field in New Britain. They also play at home on Sunday at 12 p.m. at Beehive against Vermont.

Illinois scored three runs in the top of the fourth inning off of Blue Devil starter Ken Kerski. The senior lefty yielded a bases loaded triple with two outs, giving the Illini the lead. In the bottom of the inning the Blue Devils put runners on first and second with one out, but a double play ended the scoring threat.

Two more runs in the top of the fifth gave the Illini a 5-0 edge. Nick Stockwell singled through the right side to drive in a pair of runs.

The Blue Devil offense never clicked on Tuesday. managing just five hits and being shut out for the first time this season. It's the first time in 24 games, dating back to last season, that the Blue Devils failed to score a run.

Kerski picked up the loss, pitching seven innings and allowing five runs on 10 hits while striking out one. Junior Wes Poppe pitched the final two innings in the game allowing one run on a pair of hits. He struck out one.

The Blue Devils return to action on Friday with a scheduled game at the University of Hartford at 3 p.m. They will open their home schedule hosting Binghamton in a pair of games beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday and then hosting Vermont in a single game at 12 p.m. on Sunday. Those games will be played at Beehive Field in New Britain.