TUCSON, Ariz. -- Indiana Wesleyan University baseball continued their Spring Break trip in Tucson, Arizona on Friday with a doubleheader against Northwestern (Iowa), a team receiving votes in the NAIA Preseason Poll.
Indiana Wesleyan claimed a 6-1 victory in the opener while Northwestern earned the split with a 5-3 final score in the nightcap. IWU is now 4-6 this season while Northwestern is 7-9.
In the opening game, Indiana Wesleyan quickly got on the board with three runs in the first inning. Cody Calvert (SR/Godfrey, Ill.), Logan Tomlinson (SO/Trabuco Canyon, Calif.), and Craig Nesselhuf (JR/Littleton, Colo.) all had RBIs in the inning. Leading 3-1 heading into the fifth inning, Indiana Wesleyan added a pair of runs with an RBI single by Thomas Barnes (SR/Marion, Ind.) and a sac fly by Calvert. IWU capped the game with a run in the sixth inning with a Jack Collingsworth, Jr. (JR/Apple Valley Calif.) RBI groundout to short.
Justin Sovine (SR/Wadsworth, Ohio) was stellar on the mound with a complete game to earn the win. He allowed a single run on seven hits in 7.0 innings. He walked five and struck out six Red Raiders.
Nesselhuf went 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI while Barnes went 2-for-3 with run, an RBI, and a stolen base. IWU had eight hits in the win.
In the second game, the Wildcats trailed 5-1 as the game moved into the seventh inning. Nick Koh (SO/Auckland, N.Z.) scored on an error and Caleb Birkey (JR/Granger, Ind.) scored on a fielder’s choice groundout off the bat of Preston Fugita (SR/Littleton, Colo.). Cam Screeton came to the plate as the tying run with two outs and a runner on but flew out to right field.
Brandon Watkins (SO/Indianapolis, Ind.) suffered the loss with four runs -- two earned -- on six hits in 5.0 innings. Marcus Price (SO/Hartford City, Ind.) allowed one run in his only inning of work.
Tomlinson and Birkey each accounted for two hits and a double in the game as Indiana Wesleyan had six as a team.
Indiana Wesleyan completes their trip to Arizona on Saturday with a doubleheader against Briar Cliff (Iowa.). The first game begins at 11 a.m. ET.
