Six-run third inning puts Illini West in command as it goes on to 14-4 victory over Beardstown

CARTHAGE, Ill. — The Illini West baseball team got back to its winning ways on Tuesday, and a big third inning was the catalyst in doing so. 

Trailing Beardstown 4-3 entering the bottom of the third, the Chargers cashed in six runs to take a 9-4 lead and never looked back, tacking on five more to end a 14-4 victory in six innings.

That third inning started harmlessly enough with a Nick Johnson ground out, but three of the next five batters notched RBI extra-base hits. Shawn Watkins Jr.’s double tied the game, then Stephen Sparks doubled on the next pitch to trade places with Watkins and give the Chargers a 5-4 lead. Nick Bruns singled, then Tre Neiderman extended Illini West’s advantage to 7-4 with a triple to right field. Carson Purdy drove in Neiderman with a sacrifice fly, and Carter Chapin capped the inning with a single to right, scoring Max Kinnamon.

The Chargers scored three more runs in the sixth, and Khile Stonger put the mercy rule into effect with a one-out single in the sixth.

Neiderman went 3 for 4 and scored three runs. Stonger, who pinch-hit for Johnson in the fifth, went 2 for 2 and scored three times. Watkins went 2 for 3 with two RBIs.

Illini West (22-10) will play three games in the next four days to close the regular season, beginning with a road date with Orion on Wednesday.