Dominic Guzman struck out 11 and Filip Milatovic launched a two-run home run to lift St. Ambrose to a 2-1 win over Judson in SAU's first game at the CCAC Tournament at Slammers Stadium in Joliet, Ill., Thursday.

The top-seeded Bees will now play the winner of Thursday afternoon's Saint Xavier-Olivet Nazarene game Friday at 1 p.m.

Guzman went the distance, allowing just six hits and one run. The senior right-hander was touched for that run in the second on a two-out RBI single. The damage could have been worse as the Eagles followed with a double to left, but Mason Heitzler's relay throw to the plate was in time to nail the runner to end the inning.

Guzman, who walked five, pitched out of trouble several times, including a bases-loaded jam in the sixth as Quinn Flanagan tracked down a fly ball in short right to end the threat.

St. Ambrose (30-19) then broke through in the bottom of the inning.

With one out, Flanagan was hit by a pitch, and then on a full count, Milatovic ripped his two-run blast to right to give the Bees the lead.

Guzman escaped the seventh after issuing back-to-back two-out walks and seemingly got stronger from there. He retired the final seven hitters he faced, emphatically ending the game with his 11th strikeout to send the Eagles to an elimination game later Thursday.

Heitzler, Jake Pauley and Eric Gonzalez also had hits in the win.

While SAU will face either Saint Xavier or Olivet Nazarene in a battle of the two tournament remaining unbeatens Friday, Judson will square off against Indiana South Bend in the first elimination game Thursday. St. Francis will play either SXU or ONU in a second elimination game later Thursday.

The double-elimination tournament will run through Saturday with the champion earning the CCAC's automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round.