4/20/2026 Fulton, MO– The Blue Jay Baseball team continued their homestand this weekend against Blackburn, who entered the series 3-9 in conference play. The Jays showed much-needed signs of improvement, nearly winning their previous series against MUW. Hoping to make a strong push into the playoffs, that progress will have to continue.
Game 1: W, 21-5
In the first game of the series, the Jays' improvement not only continued, but it exploded. While starter
Jack Page was roughed up early, giving up two in the first, and the offense only had one hit going into the fourth inning, the fifth inning was a massive turning point. The Blue Jays brought 17 batters to the plate and exploded for 11 runs and 7 hits in the inning. After trading three-run fifth innings, the Jays unloaded for another massive inning in the sixth, scoring seven runs in the inning, highlighted by homers from
Troy Romero and
Caleb Warren. This game ended in seven innings, and the Jays, scoring their highest run total of the season, won 21-5.
Game 2: W, 15-1
Looking to maintain the dominance from game one, the Jays turned to
Derek Archer. Archer mowed through the Blackburn order, going six innings, only giving up one while striking out eight. The righty has stacked a handful of strong outings in this home stretch of the season, exactly what the Blue Jays need in an effort to make the SLIAC tournament. The offense didn't miss a beat either, picking up right where they left off. In the early innings, the Jays took advantage of sloppy defense to take the lead, then strung base hits together nonstop to put up 15 runs in another seven-inning match. The offensive outburst was carried heavily by the top of the Blue Jay order, the first four hitters in the lineup combined for an incredible 7-13 day with eight runs driven in. The Jays won this one 15-1, and had all the momentum in the world heading into Sunday, aiming for a sweep.
Game 3: W, 12-6
With the most momentum they have had all season, looking for a sweep in front of their home crowd, the Jays gave lefty Blake Althuisuis the starting nod. Althuisuis worked in and out of trouble to shut the Beavers out for four innings. However, once he got to the fifth, he was unable to work out of the trouble he had done such a good job of working out of previously. Althuisuis allowed the first three runners to reach before getting pulled, all three scoring later, plus an additional run not towards his name. On the offensive side, the Jays stayed hot.
Caleb Warren got the scoring going, doubling in
Aden Pecka in the first.
Brett Montgomery added to an impressive weekend by smacking a solo shot in the third to give the Blue Jays their second run. After the blowup fifth inning, the Jays' bats fought back, scoring a run in the bottom half of the inning and then another huge inning in the sixth, putting nine runs on the board. This huge inning was capped off by an
Aden Pecka two-run double, his second hit of the inning, giving him three RBIs and four hits on the day. After a two-run Blackburn eighth,
Dawson Willard and the Jays shut down the Beavers in the ninth to secure the win and the sweep. A perfect ending to the dominant weekend.
Following this weekend's dominance, the Blue Jays will look to maintain it against Columbia College on Wednesday, the 22nd, and then Principia on Friday, the 24th, wrapping up their homestand.
