MARION, Ind. - Pitching, defense and timely hitting led Indiana Wesleyan University baseball to a two game sweep of visiting Grace (Ind.) College on Thursday evening at Wildcat Field.
Indiana Wesleyan used a walk-off single in game one for a 5-4 victory in eight innings and capped the evening with a 4-2 victory as IWU improves to 13-26 this season and 3-9 in the Mid-Central College Conference.
In game one, Indiana Wesleyan jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead with a run in the first and two more in the second inning.
Catcher Alex Ridlen singled and Tim Zeigler came in to run. He promptly stole second base to get into scoring position. First baseman Kyle Beachy grounded out to shortstop which would have ended the inning, but the throw was wild which allowed Zeigler to score from second for the 1-0 IWU lead.
In the second, designated hitter Brice Davis and third baseman Jonathan Bastian led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Right fielder CJ Sandmann then walked to load the bases with nobody out. A wild pitch scored Davis and Bastian scored on a single through the hole from leftfielder TJ Fletcher.
But in the top of the third Grace would have a big inning to take a 4-3 lead. Grace scored courtesy of four hits, a walk and a hit by pitch.
The Lancers continued to hold the 4-3 advantage until the bottom of the sixth when the Wildcats tied the score 4-4.
Davis singled past a diving shortstop to start the inning. Pinch runner Conner Cunningham was given second base on a balk and took third on a sacrifice bunt by Bastian. Fletcher collected a two out RBI with an infield single for a 4-4 tie.
Indiana Wesleyan threatened to win the game in the bottom of the seventh as IWU loaded the bases with two outs. Fletcher came up to bat and slugged a deep fly ball to right field that nearly left the yard, but a tough catch was made to force extra innings.
Grace (12-24, 4-16 MCC) never threatened in their half of the eighth.
Leading off the home half of the eighth, Fletcher gained his third hit of the game. He stole second base and advanced to third on a fly ball from Nofziger to right field. Ridlen then hit a high pop up that landed in shallow right field between three Grace players for the walk-off victory.
Indiana Wesleyan outhit Grace 13-6 in the contest led by Fletcher's 3-for-5 game. He had two RBI, one run and a pair of stolen bases. Davis finished 2-for-3 with a run and Bastian was 2-for-2 with a run scored and a sacrifice.
Relief pitcher Michael Caley earned the win in relief. He gave up one hit and struck out one in one inning. Ryne Brown, making his first start of the season, pitched seven innings and allowed four runs on five hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
For the second straight game on Thursday, Indiana Wesleyan gained an early lead, this time with a pair of runs in the opening inning of game two.
Fletcher led off with a single and Nofziger was hit by a pitch to put the first two men on base. After a double steal, Ridlen grounded out to second to score the game's first run. Beachy followed with a sac fly to deep left center field to score Nofziger and give Indiana Wesleyan the 2-0 advantage.
Grace tied the score with two runs in the third inning. Grace used four hits in the inning, one more than IWU would collect the entire game.
The Wildcats quickly regained the lead in the bottom of the third inning without the benefit of a hit. Fletcher once again got an inning started by getting on base, this time with a walk. He stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Fletcher scored on a Beachy ground out as Beachy earned two RBI in the first three innings without ever reaching base.
IWU added an insurance run in the fifth inning which all happened with two outs. Nofziger tripled into the right center field gap and later scored on a wild pitch for the 4-2 lead.
That was more than enough for starting pitcher Jordan Vannoy. He completed the game and allowed two runs on eight hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out seven for his third win of the season.
Fletcher and Nofziger ended the second game with identical 1-for-2 performances at the plate with two runs each. Fletcher stole two bases and Nofziger added one as IWU stole four bases for the second straight game.
The Wildcats played very well defensively in both games. IWU did not commit an error in either game.
Indiana Wesleyan and Grace will renew acquaintances very quickly as the two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, April 17 in Winona Lake, Indiana.
Box scores: Game 1 | Game 2
