MARION, Ind. -- Indiana Wesleyan University baseball split a twin bill on Saturday with visiting Goshen (Ind.) College on Senior Day at Wildcat Field. Indiana Wesleyan won the opener 8-0 and Goshen won game two 3-1.
Seven senior Wildcats were honored in a pre-game ceremony. Each player was presented a framed jersey during the celebration. The seven seniors recognized were: Quinn Nofziger, Peter Engle, Brice Davis, Craig Dollens, Michael Caley, Javier Aponte, and Josh Ellis.
The Wildcats finish regular season play with a 22-22-1 overall record. IWU ends the Crossroads League schedule in fifth place with a record of 17-13.
Senior Michael Caley pitched a gem in the opening game as he finished with a 3-hit shutout. Caley improves to 5-4 on the season.
Caley allowed two hits in the first inning but stranded them with an inning ending double play. Goshen led off the second inning with a perfect bunt down the third base line for a single. Caley buckled down and would not allow a hit the rest of the game.
Seniors Peter Engle and Josh Ellis led off the third inning with back-to-back doubles for the game’s first run. Ellis scored later in the inning on a Quinn Nofziger ground out to second base as Indiana Wesleyan led 2-0.
The Wildcats put the game away in the fifth inning with four runs for a 6-0 advantage. AJ Harris ripped a single to left to score Engle for the first run in the inning while Nofziger was the next batter up and he singled to right-center to chase home Ellis. With men on the corner, Nofziger stole second base but the throw was to third trying to catch Harris off guard. The throw went down the left field line as Harris trotted home. Senior Brice Davis then singled to score Nofziger for the 6-0 cushion.
Indiana Wesleyan added to their lead in the bottom of the sixth courtesy of a Goshen error. Engle led the inning off by reaching first on a wild throw by the GC third baseman. As Engle rounded the bag the first baseman interfered and the umpire gave Engle second base. The next two batters were retired before Nofziger reached base after he was hit by a pitch. Fugita and Davis followed with RBI singles for the 8-0 score.
In game two, Indiana Wesleyan struggled offensively against Goshen starting pitcher Alex Mosbarger. He limited Indiana Wesleyan to two hits and no runs during his 5.0 innings of work. IWU failed to earn a hit until there were two outs in the fourth inning.
By that time the Maple Leafs already led 3-0. All three runs came in the top of the first inning off IWU starting pitcher Bryan Beachy. The Maple Leafs had four hits in the frame with the biggest being a two-run, two-out single by Benjamin Kelly.
Beachy settled in the rest of the way as he retired 11 in a row at one point. After surrendering four hits in the first inning, Beachy did not give up another hit until a leadoff bunt single for Goshen in the seventh. He finished the game allowing three runs on five hits in 7.0 innings. He struck out five and did not issue a walk.
Indiana Wesleyan threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning. Davis singled home Nofziger for the Wildcats’ only run of the game. With two on and one out, Aponte and Cameron Screeton hit long fly balls to end the inning.
The Wildcats again put the tying run on base in the seventh when Engle walked and pinch hitter Conner King hit an infield single with one out. Nofziger hit a ball deep down the right field line and the Goshen right fielder caught the ball a step into foul territory for out number two and Preston Fugita hit into a game ending fielder’s choice.
Indiana Wesleyan will next play in the Crossroads League Tournament. IWU is the fifth seed in the tournament and will play No. 4-seed University of Saint Francis (Ind.) on Wednesday at Taylor (Ind.) University in Upland, Indiana.
