Millikin athletics photo by Zoe Gousios

The Millikin baseball team held off Augustana College 9-8 to win the 2024 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Tournament on May 12 in Chicago earning the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Millikin is now 29-14 while Augustana ends its season at 27-17. The Big Blue will find out where it will play in the NCAA Tournament when the field in announced on Monday, May 13 at 11 a.m. at NCAA.com.

The Big Blue got the offense going in the first inning. Kyle Gibson drew a one out walk and scored on a two-run home run from Tommy Shaw. Ryan Janssen followed with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Andy Neibrugge to make it 3-0 Big Blue.

Shaw continued his hot hitting with a three-run home run to center in the second inning to give Millikin a 6-0 lead.

Augustana got on the board in the third on a sacrifice fly from Colton Davis.

The Big Blue showed off its speed on the bases in the fifth. Gibson opened the inning with a single. He then stole second and third before scoring on a single by Janssen. Janssen then stole second and went to third on a throwing error. Neibrugge delivered a two-out base hit to make it an 8-1 Millikin advantage.

Augustana battled back with a six run fifth inning to tie the game at 8-8.
Daniel Mosele and Kannon Perry each hit three run home runs in the inning.

Liam McGill singled home Sam Bushur who reached on a base hit to make it 9-8 Big Blue in the top of the seventh.

Drew Sutton was the winning pitcher in relief. Caleb Buehrle pitched the final two innings allowing one hit and no runs to earn his second save of the season.