Games 1 & 2
Normal, IL. – The Hawks returned from Florida Friday with a quick turnaround starting their conference play Saturday at the Corn Crib. The Hawks took the first two from the Blazers, winning 9-1 and 13-3.

Garner Spoljaric (2-0) picked up where he left off from his last start in Florida. Spoljaric went 5.2 innings, striking out nine and allowing one run on two hits.

Jake Zylman (3-for-4, 3 R, 2 RBI) got the scoring started for the Hawks in the bottom of the second with a one-out double to left center that scored two. After Michael Bieterman drew a walk, a wild pitch moved Zylman and Bieterman to second and third, respectively. Normal West High School graduate, Peyton Dillingham (3-for-4, 2 RBI), answered the call with a single to left field, both runners scored to bring the score to 4-0 Hawks after two innings of play.

Tyler McHolland (1-for-2, 3 RBI) added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth with a one-out bases loaded double to right center field.

Dillingham would end the game with a walk-off run-rule induced two-run single in the seventh.

In game two, Andrew Zapka (2-0) took the mound for the Hawks. Zapka sprayed five hits in 4.0 innings, giving up three runs to earn the win.
Miles Simington had a nice day at the plate going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI's.
Billy Mote (1-for-2, HR, 2 BB) and Jake Zylman (1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI) both added to their homerun totals as the Hawks' offense put up thirteen runs in five innings to induce another run-rule affair 13-3.
 
Games 3 & 4
Quincy, IL. – Leo Diaz shut down the Hawks in game three of the series. Diaz worked 7.0 innings and only allowed two runs to score as the Blazers went on to win 8-2.

Josh Stivers (2-for-3, RBI) and Sam Olson (2-for-3) had two hits each. Luke Patzner was solid in his relief of starter Paul Turelli. Patzner went 4.2 innings striking out eleven of the eighteen batters he faced.

In the final game of the series, a five-run second inning for the Hawks would prove to be enough for starter Clifton Slagel (2-0). Slagel went 6.0 innings, and carried a no-hitter into his last inning on the mound. The Tulane commit struck out seven and gave up two runs on one hit.

Freshman Blake Harseim picked up his first career save in his one inning of work. The freshman got the Hawks out of a bases loaded jam to end the ball game 8-4.

Matt Barnes led the offense going 3-for-3 with a double.