MOLINE, Ill. – The Illinois College baseball team split its final two games of the Augustana Invitational on Saturday.

IC dropped a 16-5 decision in the opener against Buena Vista but bounced back in the second contest to top Dominican, 8-5.

The Blueboys are now 9-6 on the season.

Game 1: Buena Vista 16 IC 5
IC opened the game with a five-run outburst in the second inning, but the Beavers roared back and put up 10 runs in their half of the third.  BV also added three runs in the sixth and seventh innings respectively to put the game out of reach.

The Blueboy offense was highlighted by Louie Bartletti's grand slam in the second inning. IC was limited to four hits in the contest, two of which came from Logan Fleener. Along with Bartletti and Fleener, Ketch Mills recorded the other hit.

Anthony Buonaura took the loss on the mound for IC.

Game 2: IC 8 Dominican 5
IC jumped out to a 2-0 lead before Dominican rallied to go up 3-2 in the second inning but the Blueboys rallied in the third with three of their own and never trailed again, adding an insurance run in the sixth and two more in the ninth.

Bartletti was again the hitting star for IC, going 4-for-5  with a double and two runs scored. Mills and Nathan Walker each had three hits with a double and an RBI while Connor Hennemann added two hits and scored twice.

Charlie Lardi earned the victory, tossing five innings and allowing three runs on three hits with five strikeouts. Branson Shaw posted the save, working the final two innings and allowing just one hit with a pair of strikeouts.

Up Next
The Blueboys will open Midwest Conference play on Saturday when Monmouth comes to Joe Brooks Field for a Noon doubleheader.