ECC 1 win from World Series

One more to go.

The Elgin Community College baseball team beat Carl Sandburg 4-2 Friday at the Region IV tournament in Moline and now stands just one win from its fifth straight trip to the NJCAA World Series.

Sandburg then went on to defeat Illinois Valley in the second game Friday so the Spartans will face Sandburg today at noon for the title. A Sandburg win would set up a 3 p.m. winner take all game.

Josh Downing (4-1) threw all 9 innings for the Spartans (30-14) Friday, allowing just 5 hits and striking out four.

Bryan Mason had one of the Spartans' four hits at the plate, an RBI double.

"We played great defense with a good pitching performance from Josh," ECC coach Bill Angelo said. "We've got another big game (today) so hopefully we can keep up the great defense and pitching so we can make another trip out to Millington."