MARION, Ind. -- Indiana Wesleyan University baseball extended its win streak to a season-high four games with a doubleheader sweep on Tuesday night against Goshen (Ind.) College at Wildcat Field.
IWU won the pair of games on Tuesday by scores of 8-1 and 5-1.
The Wildcats won their fourth straight game at home following a doubleheader sweep of Huntington (Ind.) University on Saturday afternoon. The wins improve the Wildcats to 18-31 this season and 8-12 in the Mid-Central College Conference.
Centerfielder Quinn Nofziger dominated the stat sheet in the opening game one victory. Nofziger hit 2-for-3 with a walk, home run, four RBI and two stolen bases. The home run was the first in Nofziger's collegiate career despite a strong wind blowing straight in.
Designated hitter Peter Engle did not earn a hit in the game but drew a pair of walks and scored three times. He also collected three of the seven Wildcat stolen bases in the victory. IWU now sits in the NAIA top-15 in stolen bases.
Goshen was able to pull ahead early in the game with a run before Indiana Wesleyan ever got to bat. IWU tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the third on a RBI single by Nofziger to score Engle.
The Wildcats took the lead in the fourth with three runs on two hits and two Maple Leaf errors. Rightfielder Derek Freds opened the inning with a triple to deep right centerfield and scored on an error by the GC shortstop off the bat of shortstop Ben Zachary. Zachary in turn scored on an error two batters later. Engle crossed the plate for the third run of the inning on a wild pitch.
Indiana Wesleyan increased the lead to 5-1 in the fifth inning on a stolen base. With two outs and Nofziger on third base and first baseman Kyle Beachy on first base, Beachy was forced into a run down between first and third and was not tagged out before Nofziger scampered home for the run.
The Wildcat completed the scoring in the game with three more runs in the sixth inning. Engle walked and Bastian reached on an error. Nofziger then crushed a pitch over the right field fence for a 3-run home run and an 8-1 IWU advantage.
Starting pitcher Tim Zeigler was excellent on the mound for the complete game victory. He scattered seven hits and did not walk a batter. He struck out six in just 78 pitches.
In game two, Goshen once again jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning.
Indiana Wesleyan took the lead in the second inning with four runs, despite just one hit in the inning. IWU took advantage of Goshen errors and a plethora of walks.
Zachary reached base to open the inning on a dropped fly ball. Beachy and Davis followed with walks and catcher Phil Lougheed drew a third straight walk to force in the first IWU run. Bastian followed with an infield single for the eventual game-winning run and a 2-1 lead. Nofziger collected another RBI was a sac fly. Following a walk to leftfielder CJ Sandmann, designated hitter Alex Ridlen hit the second sac fly of the inning for the 4-1 advantage.
Indiana Wesleyan added one more run in the third inning for the 5-1 lead. Bastian hit the third sac fly of the game for IWU which scored Zachary with the bases loaded.
Jordan Vannoy pitched a superb game to earn the victory on the mound. Vannoy allowed one unearned run on three hits and two walks in the seven inning complete game.
Bastian completed the game 1-for-2 with two RBI and Zachary was 1-for-3 with a pair of runs.
Indiana Wesleyan will next travel to Goshen on Thursday as the teams play another doubleheader.
Box scores: Game 1 | Game 2
