PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Indiana Wesleyan University baseball nearly overcame a seven run deficit on Tuesday in a nine inning loss to Benedictine (Ill.) University in the RussMatt Invitational in Phoenix, Arizona.

Benedictine (7-7) built a commanding 8-1 lead through six innings and seemed to have the game in hand. But Indiana Wesleyan stormed back in the final three innings with nine runs to fall just shy 11-10.

The Wildcats scored three runs in each the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings. Seth White doubled home Josh Ellis and Preston Fugita with nobody out in the ninth to bring Indiana Wesleyan to within one at 11-10.

Quinn Nofziger grounded out for the first out of the inning as White advanced to third. Alex Ridlen had a chance to chase home the game-tying run but a ground out with the infield in could not score White to bring up Craig Dollens. Dollens, who finished 2-for-4 with two RBI, would fly out to end the game stranding White just 90 feet from home.

The Wildcats tallied 17 hits in the loss with five players totaling multiple hits. Nofziger was 3-for-5 with two runs. Javier Aponte, Jacob Murphy, and Ellis were each 2-for-5 at the plate while Fugita scored three runs.

Indiana Wesleyan starting pitcher Cody Jones was the pitcher of record for the Wildcats. Jones allowed eight runs on 14 hits in 7.0 innings of work.

Indiana Wesleyan (4-8) returns to action tomorrow during their Spring Break trip in Phoenix, Arizona. IWU will battle Northwestern (Iowa) College.