Westminster splits season finale with Greenville

The Blue Jays wrapped up the regular season by splitting a St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader with the Panthers on Friday at Saucier Field.

Westminster College (21-10, 16-6 SLIAC) collected 10 hits to cruise to an 8-1 victory in the nightcap. Senior first baseman Tim Chambliss drove in senior second baseman Cam Backes with a sacrifice fly to left in the bottom of the first to start the scoring.

Junior third baseman Tyler Branneky plated sophomore designated hitter Connor Hager with a sacrifice to center in the third to push the Blue Jays' edge to 2-0.

Westminster added to its advantage in the third when sophomore right fielder Tanner Branneky reached on a fielder's choice to score freshman center fielder Nick Bohlmann. Greenville (18-16, 16-5 SLIAC) cashed in on a throwing error by the Blue Jays in the fourth to cut the deficit to 3-1.

Chambliss doubled home Tyler Branneky in the fifth, then scored later in the inning when Bohlmann reached on a fielder's choice.

Westminster concluded its scoring with three runs in the seventh. Bohlmann drew a bases-loaded walk to force home junior left fielder Deion Hughes, while Tanner Branneky drove in Chambliss and Chris Asher with a two-run single later in the frame.

Hager finished 3-for-4 with a double, while Bohlmann was 2-for-3. Junior starter Will Miller struck out nine in eight innings to pick up the win. Miller (6-0) allowed an unearned run on three hits and walked none.

Hughes (7-2) struck out seven and went the distance as the Blue Jays dropped the opener 1-0. He gave up an earned run on six hits and walked two.

The Panthers scored the game's only run on left fielder Tim Osborne's RBI single in the top of the third.

Chambliss was 1-for-2, while Tyler Branneky and freshman left fielder Blake Strebler were both 1-for-3 as Westminster was limited to three hits.

The Blue Jays - the No. 2 seed in the SLIAC Western Division - open play Thursday in the conference's postseason tournament in Greenville, Illinois.