Bottom three in Illini West batting order combine for eight hits, five RBIs, four runs in victory over Pittsfield

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — The Illini West baseball team’s lineup has no easy outs, and Monday’s game against Pittsfield provided the most recent evidence.

The bottom three in the Chargers’ order — Ethan Carlisle, Carson Purdy and Grady Blue — went a combined 8 for 10 with five RBIs and scored four runs in a 10-4 win over the Saukees.

The trio’s most timely hits came in the top of the seventh. Hayden Gratton’s three-run home run in the fifth trimmed the Chargers’ lead to 6-4, which is where the lead stood until the seventh. The Chargers got runners to first and third with two outs for Carlisle, who singled to drive in Max Kinnamon from third. Purdy, Blue and Carter Chapin strung together consecutive singles to bring in three more runs, giving pitcher Wesley Robertson a comfortable six-run cushion.

Robertson only surrendered a one-out single to Gratton in the bottom of the seventh.

Carlisle finished 3 for 3 with two runs and two RBIs, Purdy went 2 for 4, and Blue went 3 for 3 with two RBIs. Purdy entered the game with just two at-bats this season and had not appeared in a game since April 7. Both Carlisle and Chapin are hitting at or above .300.

Illini West (19-8) will face West Hancock on the road on Tuesday, while Pittsfield (15-8) will play host Jacksonville Routt on Wednesday.