MARION, Ind. -- First baseman Kyle Beachy drilled a one-out single over the University of Saint Francis (Ind.) centerfielder in the 10th inning for a walk-off win to cap a doubleheader sweep for the Indiana Wesleyan University baseball team Friday afternoon.
The 3-2 game two victory came on the heels of a 3-1 Wildcat victory in the opener. Friday's doubleheader was the Mid-Central College Conference opener for both teams.
Indiana Wesleyan (10-14, 2-2 MCC) received dominating pitching performances today from starting pitchers Michael Caley and Ryne Brown.
Caley collected the complete game victory in the opener. The sophomore scattered eight hits over seven innings while allowing one run. He walked two and struck out five Cougars.
Brown matched his teammate in the second game. The junior received a no-decision despite allowing just two unearned runs in nine innings of work. Brown gave up nine hits, one walk and three punch-outs.
Indiana Wesleyan opened the day with one run in their first at bat from two hits and an error. Courtesy runner Conner Cunningham advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored when Saint Francis catcher Derek Coverstone threw the ball into left field.
Coverstone atoned for his earlier mistake in the third inning when his two out double tied the score at 1-1.
Indiana Wesleyan regained the lead in the fifth inning with two runs. Shortstop Josh Ellis reached first to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a bunt single by centerfielder CJ Sandmann. On the bunt play by Sandmann, Saint Francis had no one covering third base and Ellis raced the USF shortstop to third with no throw. With the shortstop now at third, Saint Francis left second base open for Sandmann to jaunt to the base without a play.
The Wildcats took advantage of the Cougars lapse as both runners would score in the inning. Ellis scored on catcher Alex Ridlen's single to left while Sandmann crossed home when s
econd baseman Brice Davis singled to shallow left center for a 3-1 advantage.
Caley protected the lead as he retired the next six batters in order after gaining the lead. He retired the final nine batters overall.
Ridlen and Davis were each 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI while Sandmann also was 2-for-3 at the dish. Cunningham scored a pair of runs while DH Peter Engle finished 1-for-3.
In game two, freshman Chris Tyler was the winning pitcher in one inning of relief of Brown. Tyler walked two did not allow a hit as he got out of a major jam in the top of the 10th inning.
With the score tied 2-2, Tyler walked Saint Francis (6-16, 0-2 MCC) leadoff hitter Ben Martin. He reached second on a sac bunt and then third on a wild pitch. USF centerfielder Tristen Peffley followed with a slow roller down the first base line that a diving Beachy was able to glove as he rolled over the bag for the second out of the inning. But Martin decided to stay at third and that is where he was left to finish out the 10th.
IWU intentionally walked Coverstone with two outs and courtesy runner Ian Clay stole second to set up an at bat with cleanup hitter Taylor Futterknecht. Tyler induced a weak ground ball to second to get out of the inning unscathed.
Those turn of events setup the dramatic walk-off by Beachy in the bottom of the inning.
Ridlen led off with a single and Sam Garver came into pinch run. With one out, Davis walked to put Wildcats on first and second with one out. Leftfielder Craig Dollens then hit a potential inning ending double play ball to short, but Martin misplayed it to load the bases with one out. Beachy hit a screamer over the drawn in outfield to cap the doubleheader sweep and send the Wildcats into celebration in front of second base.
Rightfielder Derek Freds had a huge day at the plate going 4-for-5 with an RBI while Ridlen was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Indiana Wesleyan and Saint Francis will do it all over again tomorrow with a second doubleheader. This one will take place at Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
Click for box scores: Game 1 | Game 2