GOSHEN, Ind. -- Great pitching efforts by Indiana Wesleyan University baseball led the way to a doubleheader sweep at Goshen (Ind.) College.
The Wildcats won 4-0 in the opener and took the sweep behind a 4-1 win in the nightcap. Shane Bryant and Justin Sovine combined to allow no earned runs in 14.0 innings on the mound.
Cameron Screeton had a big day at the plate in the opener as he was 2-for-3. Screeton led off the fifth inning with an infield single and then stole second base. Screeton scored the game-winning run when Peter Engle singled to right field.
The lead was still 1-0 for the Wildcats as the game headed into the seventh. Screeton knocked home the second run of the game with a single that scored courtesy runner Trey Shigley. Later in the inning with two out and no one on, Engle and Josh Ellis hit back-to-back doubles for a 3-0 lead. AJ Harris followed with an RBI single to score Ellis for the 4-0 win.
Bryant pitched the shutout for his team-leading sixth win of the year. He scattered six hits and one walk over 7.0 innings to go along with six strikeouts. It was his seventh complete game of the season and first shutout.
In the second game, Indiana Wesleyan scored first with a two-run third inning. The first run came without the ball ever leaving the infield. Ellis reached on a bunt single to lead the inning off. Harris laid down a sac bunt to advance him to second base and then Quinn Nofziger had a bunt single to put runners on the corners. Nofziger stole second base and the Goshen catcher threw the ball into center which allowed Ellis to score and for Nofziger to advance to third. Fugita then hit a sac fly to right field for the 2-0 advantage.
The Wildcats added one more runs in the fifth for a 3-0 lead. Harris and Nofziger hit back-to-back singles to begin the frame and Fugita laid down a sac bunt to put both runners in scoring position. Harris crossed the plate on a sac fly by Brice Davis.
Goshen scored their first run of the day in the first inning off starting pitcher Justin Sovine. The Maple Leafs benefitted from three hits and one throwing error in the inning.
Indiana Wesleyan was able to get that run back in the top of the seventh. Nofziger was hit by a pitch and he proceeded to steal second and third base. He would score on a single thru the hole at shortstop as IWU took a 4-1 lead.
The two stolen bases in the seventh make Nofziger the all-time leader in career stolen bases at Indiana Wesleyan. He entered play today with 81 career steals and with four stolen bases in game two he now has 85. The previous record was 84 set by Rich Gilmore who played for Indiana Wesleyan from 1992-95.
Sovine’s numbers nearly mimicked Bryant from game one. Sovine pitched a 7.0 inning complete game with no earned runs on six hits and no walks with six strikeouts.
Indiana Wesleyan (21-21-1, 16-12 CL) and Goshen (3-38, 2-26 CL) will play again tomorrow at Wildcat Field. It will be Senior Day for Indiana Wesleyan in the regular season finale for both teams. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
