MARION, Ind. -- Indiana Wesleyan University baseball won one of the more crazy games ever played at Wildcat Field against Concordia (Mich.) University on Tuesday night.
Indiana Wesleyan twice tied the score in the seventh and eighth innings during the second game of the doubleheader. IWU finally earned the win in the ninth inning on a play at the plate.
All did not look well early as starting pitcher Jeremy Worrell gave up five runs in the first two innings.
But Indiana Wesleyan also put across some early runs with one in the first and two more in the second to trail just 5-3 after two.
Wildcat freshman Steven Thrasher came up huge out of the IWU bullpen with three scoreless innings of work. He allowed a single hit and walked four to give the Wildcats a chance.
The sixth inning is when things got very interesting. Down by two, Indiana Wesleyan plated one run to close the deficit to 5-4. Third baseman Brice Davis was at third base as the tying run, but senior TJ Fletcher grounded out to the pitcher to end the threat.
In the bottom of the seventh, Indiana Wesleyan loaded the bases with one out. Junior second baseman Derek Freds hit a deep sac fly to chase home centerfielder CJ Sandmann for the tying run at 5-5. IWU continued to threaten with the bases loaded and two outs but relief pitcher Mike Lymberopolous grounded out to the pitcher to sent the game into extra innings.
Momentum quickly shifted back to Concordia in the eighth inning as the Cardinals scored twice to capture the 7-5 advantage.
Indiana Wesleyan (8-14) looked in trouble as the first two batters recorded outs in the bottom of the eighth. But Indiana Wesleyan put the next two runners on base and then cleanup hitter and first baseman Kyle Beachy singled to left field as one run scored. Sandmann, the trailing runner and potential tying run, raced to third on a close play, but the throw got past the Concordia third baseman allowing Sandmann to jaunt home and tie the score 7-7 and sent the game into the ninth inning.
Lymberopolous had little trouble on the mound in the top of the ninth, setting up the explosive bottom of the ninth.
Freds led off the inning with a blast that ended up hitting off the left center field wall for a double. Following a fly out and an intentional walk, catcher Phillip Lougheed drew a walk to load the bases with one out. Fletcher then hit a ball to shallow center that the Cardinal centerfielder caught and threw home for a play at the plate. Freds beat the throw for the improbable victory.
Concordia (9-9) appealed the play at third base and the umpire said Freds left after the catch as a wild game came to a conclusion.
Sandmann finished the game 2-for-4 with three runs scored. Davis entered the game late and earned hits in both his at bats while Freds was 1-for-3 with a RBI and a run scored.
Lymberopolous was credited with the win. He allowed a pair of runs in four innings of relief work.
Indiana Wesleyan lost a tough decision in the opener by a 5-2 score. The game was tied 2-2 heading into the seventh when Concordia plated three unearned runs following an error on a groundball with two outs in the inning.
Freshman starting pitcher Michael Caley was the tough-luck loser on the mound. He pitched 6-2/3 innings and allowed four runs - two earned - on seven hits.
Freshman designated hitter Peter Engle had a fine day at the plate going 3-for-3 with a run scored.
Indiana Wesleyan opens Mid-Central College Conference play their next time out which will be at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 25 at Taylor (Ind.) University in Upland, Indiana.
Box Score Game1 | Box Score Game 2
