HUNTINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana Wesleyan University baseball finished with a doubleheader split with Huntington (Ind.) University for the second time in three days on Thursday in Huntington.
The two teams split their season series 2-2. Indiana Wesleyan won the first game today by a 6-3 margin while Huntington gained the split with a 9-6 victory in the nightcap.
In the opening game, Indiana Wesleyan struck first with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning. Jacob Murphy hit a single to score Peter Engle and Quinn Nofziger followed with an RBI on a fielder’s choice that allowed Murphy to score for a 2-0 advantage.
Engle increased the lead to 3-0 in the third inning with an RBI double to score Preston Fugita. The Wildcats continued to build the lead in the fourth inning as Craig Dollens hit a sac fly and Fugita drilled a 2-run double as IWU doubled their lead to 6-0.
Starting pitcher Michael Caley was cruising for the Wildcats until the sixth inning. He allowed three runs in the frame but did not allow another run as he completed the game to collect the win.
Huntington opened the second game a 3-0 lead in in the bottom half of the first inning but Indiana Wesleyan tied it with three runs in the next half inning.
The Wildcats claimed their first lead of the game in the third inning when Cam Screeton drilled a two-run double to give IWU a 5-3 lead. In the fifth inning the Foresters tallied their second 3-run inning of the contest to reclaim a 6-5 advantage.
In the sixth inning Craig Dollens tied the game 6-6 with an RBI. With the game all tied up, IWU head coach Chad Newhard went to the bullpen as Justin Sovine relieved starting pitcher Bryan Beachy. Huntington would quickly score three runs in the sixth to retake a 9-6 lead and that is how the game ended.
The Wildcats are now 14-12-1 on the season with a 9-3 mark in the Crossroads League. The Foresters stand at 6-14 and 6-4 in the league.
Indiana Wesleyan remains on the road as they travel to play Spring Arbor (Mich.) University at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Indiana Wesleyan and Spring Arbor will then play in Marion at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9.
