WESTFIELD, Ind. – For the second straight game, Team Illinois couldn’t cling to its early lead. The offense was jumpstarted in the top of the first by SS/2B Anthony Livermore (Mount Carmel, 2020), who lined a first-pitch, 87-mph fastball into right field. He scampered around the bases thanks to a passed ball and steal of third, setting him up to score with ease on Connor Hincks’ (Benet, 2020) sacrifice fly to left field.

Team Illinois added to their lead in the fourth frame after a quiet couple innings when 3B/1B Joshua Houston (Mount Carmel, 2020) led off the inning with a single through the hole at shortstop. Livermore, again, roped a first-pitch fastball, into center this time, to keep the chain moving. After Illinois took back the lead, 2-1, OF/RHP Ryan Thiesse (St. Charles North, 2020) ripped a single to left, scoring another two.

That 4-1 advantage came and went in the bottom of the fourth, however.

Team Iowa/Minnesota turned the tables, most notably when C Cody Kelly (St. Michael-Albertville, MN; 2020) slashed a triple deep into the left-center gap, scoring a pair of runs all while handing his team the lead.

Down 8-4 in the seventh, Team Illinois did manage to bring a couple runs back after another two-run single from Thiesse. Thiesse, Houston, and Livermore collected six of their team’s seven hits on the day in the loss.

After RHP Mason Burns (Normal Community, 2020) navigated through the first two innings unscathed, Illinois’ pitchers treaded through tough waters and had trouble with their command. In Burns’ two innings of work, he struck out a pair, working 85-87 mph with an effective 73-75 mph slider. The next Illinois arm to work a scoreless frame came all the way in the seventh when RHP Jonathan Hanscom (Mundelein, 2020) pitched over back-to-back leadoff walks with the help of a smooth double play turned by Hincks and Livermore.

Illinois will seek their first win at Future Games tomorrow evening against Team Indiana at 6:30 p.m.

If you missed a Statistical Analysis of the Future Games workout, CLICK HERE. Keep checking back for a look at Scout Blog later.

A full schedule can be found HERE with pitching rotations HERE.

For a full Illinois Future Games Roster, CLICK HERE.