CARLINVILLE, Ill. - The Westminster College Blue Jays swept a SLIAC doubleheader against Blackburn College in emphatic fashion Wednesday night, breezing to a 25-5 blitz in the first game and a 10-1 victory in the nightcap.
Westminster - which has won five of its last eight - improved to 11-10 overall and 7-5 in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Blackburn tumbled to 3-23 on the season and 1-11 in the SLIAC.
Sophomore first baseman Braden Beasley hit a three-run home run and had one of the Blue Jays' five doubles in finishing 2-for-3 with six runs batted in and two runs scored in the opener. Freshman Hayden Hirschvogel - who started at third base and then moved to right field - was 3-for-3 with a triple, four RBI and scored four times as Westminster erupted for 19 hits.
Freshman second baseman Michael Skinner went 2-for-5 with a double and three RBI, while junior third baseman Trevor Rhoads finished 1-for-1 with three RBI. Junior left fielder Will Stonecipher was 3-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored for the Blue Jays, while senior designated hitter Ryan Klimkiewicz went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI and scored twice.
Westminster senior starter Ian Cassidy (4-1) went four innings to collect the victory, giving up an unearned run on just one hit while striking out five. The Blue Jays overcame five errors.
Westminster hit three homers in the second game to end up with 10 hits. Sophomore right fielder Ryan Clavin ripped a solo home run in the top of the first inning, while Stonecipher and Rhoads blasted a pair of two-run homers in the ninth to punctuate the win.
Rhoads finished 2-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored, while Stonecipher was 2-for-4 with two RBI and scored three times. Junior catcher Branden Beeler went 2-for-5 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored.
Freshman starter Mason Kirkweg threw a complete game to earn the victory for the Blue Jays. Kirkweg (3-2) allowed an earned run while scattering six hits, struck out eight and walked two.
Westminster returns home for a SLIAC doubleheader against MacMurray (Illinois) College at 1 p.m. Saturday at Saucier Field.