GOSHEN, Ind. -- Indiana Wesleyan University baseball traveled north to Goshen (Ind.) on Tuesday and came back home with two wins in Crossroads League play.
Indiana Wesleyan won a wild opening game by an 11-9 score and secured the sweep with an 8-0 win in the nightcap in five innings. The second game was called early due to darkness.
The opening game witnessed Goshen jumping out to a 7-0 lead after two innings of play. But Indiana Wesleyan responded with 11 unanswered runs to lead 11-7 as they game headed to the bottom of the seventh inning.
Marcus Price (SO/Hartford City, Ind.) retired the first two Goshen batters in the seventh inning. But Goshen had the next five batters reach base to cut the deficit to 11-9 with the bases loaded. Matt Blankenship (JR/Cincinnati, Ohio) was called upon out of the IWU bullpen and he induced a popup to shortstop on his second pitch to earn the save.
Indiana Wesleyan outhit Goshen 17-9 in the win and was led by Cam Screeton (SR/Rochester, Ind.) and Cody Calvert (SR/Godfrey, Ill.) with three hits apiece. Thomas Barnes (SR/Marion, Ind.), Logan Tomlinson (SO/Trabuco Canyon, Calif.), Craig Nesselhuf (JR/Littleton, Colo.), and Caleb Birkey (JR/Granger, Ind.) all had two hits. Tomlinson delivered a triple while Calvert had a double.
Jack Collingsworth (JR/Apple Valley Calif.) allowed seven runs on six hits and three walks in 3.1 innings. Price relieved Collingsworth and earned the victory with two runs on three hits in 3.1 innings. Blankenship collected the save as he retired the only batter he faced.
Game two was called early due to darkness. Two Wildcats went to bat in the top of the sixth when the game was concluded.
Devin Ruppert (SO/Tustin, Mich.) did not allow a run in his 5.0 innings of work. He gave up four hits and three walks along with three strikeouts.
The Wildcats scored single runs in the first, third, and fourth innings before a five run fifth inning put the game out of reach. Barnes finished 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Kaleb DeFreese (SO/Bristol, Ind.), Nesselhuf, and Calvert all supplied two hits and Calvert hit a triple.
Indiana Wesleyan improves to 22-24 this season and evens their record to 12-12 in the Crossroads League. Goshen drops to 7-35 and 5-19 in league play.
Indiana Wesleyan returns to Wildcat Field for their next games as they host Marian (Ind.) on Saturday for Senior Night. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m.
