MISHAWAKA, Ind. – Indiana Wesleyan bounced back from a 4-3 loss in the first game to knock off Bethel 9-1 in the second game of the day and final game of the four-game series. IWU took three of the four games from the Pilots.


GAME VITALS

• GAME 1: Bethel 4, Indiana Wesleyan 3
• GAME 2: Wildcats 9, Pilots 1
• RECORDS: 25-9; Bethel 6-24

INSIDE THE BOX – Game 1

• Tye Thixton launched a two-run homer in the third inning for a 2-0 edge. The long ball plated Blake Storr, who led off the inning with a single.
• IWU increased the margin to 3-0 with a run in the eighth frame. Denver Blinn doubled to left and scored when Tanner Killian roped a single to left field.
• A four-run eighth inning gave the Pilots a 4-3 lead they would not relinquish in the ninth inning.
• Blinn and MJ Stavola each had two hits in the game. Thixton, Colby Jenkins, Killian and Storr posted base hits for the visitors.
• Hunter Hoffman worked seven innings, giving up just three hits. Max Engstrom tossed one-third of a frame and gave up two runs. Parker Johnson worked two-thirds of an inning and gave up two earned runs.

SENDING THEM PACKING

• Hunter Hoffman struck out nine batters in the seven innings of work he did on the mound. In all, the team had 11 strikeouts.

INSIDE THE BOX – Game 2

• IWU scored two runs in the first, one in the second, one in the third, three in the fifth and two in the seventh to leave no doubt in the final game of the series.
• Killian and Lucas Goodin each drove in three runs while Blinn drove in a pair of batters.
• Killian and Thixton had two hits apiece while Killian scored three times. Thixton crossed home twice.
• Blinn garnered a two-run round-tripper in the first inning. Storr crossed home plate on Luke Roman's single in the second inning. Killian pushed the lead to 4-1 when he scored on a Goodin groundout in the third.
• After Killian doubled in Thixton in the fifth, he was able to jog home when Goodin unleashed a two-run homer to right field for a 7-1 lead. IWU completed the scoring when Killian got into the long ball act with a two-run shot in the seventh, which plated Jenkins.
• Blinn, Killian and Lucas all registered round-trippers in the game.

SOLID PERFORMANCE

• Jake Engelkes had a solid performance in the nightcap. He threw 101 pitches in the seven-inning complete-game effort. He gave up just one run on five hits..

NEXT TIME OUT

• The Wildcats return to action Wednesday, March 31 when they play at Indiana Tech at 4 p.m.

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