TUCSON, Ariz. -- Indiana Wesleyan University baseball lost a pair of 1-run games today to Arizona Christian at the Tucson Invitational in Tucson, Arizona.
Arizona Christian scored a game one victory 3-2 and completed the sweep with a 4-3 win in the second contest. Arizona Christian improves to 7-11 this season while Indiana Wesleyan falls to 0-7.
The Firestorm struck quick with a 3-run first inning in game one. The Wildcats responded in the second inning with two runs and trailed 3-2. Logan Tomlinson (FR, Trabuco Canyon, Calif.) and Cam Screeton were each credited with RBIs.
That would account for all the scoring as neither team scored over the last five innings of play.
Justin Sovine (JR, Wadsworth, Ohio) got off to a rocky start as he allowed three runs in the first inning. But he settled down after that and did not surrender another run the rest of the way. He pitched 6.1 innings and allowed three runs on 8 hits with 2 strikeouts.
The Wildcats were aggressive on the base paths with six stolen bases as Trey Shigley (JR, Bartlesville, Okla.) led the club with three. Cam Screeton went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI while Cody Calvert (JR, Godfrey, Ill.) reached base twice with two walks.
Indiana Wesleyan opened the second game with a second inning run. IWU grew their advantage to 3-0 in the third inning on RBIs by Craig Nesselhuf (SO, Littleton, Colo.) and Preston Fugita (JR, Littleton, Colo.). The lead was gone by the bottom of the third inning when Arizona Christian mounted a four spot on the scoreboard.
The final four innings did not see any runs cross the plate as ACU escaped with its second 1-run victory.
Brandon Watkins (FR, Indianapolis, Ind.) took the loss as he surrendered four runs on five hits in 4.1 innings. He walked three and struck out three. Marcus Price (FR, Hartford City, Ind.) relieved Watkins and retired all five batters he faced.
Nesselhuf connected on two of the five IWU hits in the game. He scored a run and knocked in another with a 2-for-4 performance. IWU drew seven walks with Logan Tomlinson earning two of them.
Indiana Wesleyan will play a single game tomorrow in Tucson. IWU and Concordia (Ill.) battle at 10 a.m. ET.
