Box Score MARION, Ind. – The nationally-ranked and second-seeded Indiana Wesleyan baseball team recorded a hard-fought 2-1 win over Columbia College in the opening round of the NAIA National Tournament. 


GAME VITALS

• Indiana Wesleyan 2, Columbia College (Mo.) 1
• RECORDS: IWU 44-12; Columbia College (Mo.) 36-10

 

The Wildcats survive and advance behind a stellar performance by Jon Young.  Baseball will play either #1 Oklahoma Wesleyan or #5 Indiana Tech at 5 p.m. tomorrow!
.
?? https://t.co/SRfweiLpyS
.@NAIA / @IndWes / @NAIABall pic.twitter.com/Vbkt9UaJuK

— IWU Wildcats (@IWUWildcats) May 18, 2021

INSIDE THE BOX

• The homestanding Wildcats jumped on top of the visitors with a run in the second inning.  
• Tanner Killian and Lucas Goodin reached on back-to-back walks. An error on the shortstop allowed Killian to cross home for a 1-0 edge.
• The Cougars tied it at 1-1 in the top of the fifth.
• IWU regained the advantage in the bottom of the sixth. After Luke Roman singled to shallow right field to lead off the frame, Tye Thixton blasted a double to deep right, making it 2-1.
• Columbia College put two runners on base in the ninth, but Jake Engelkes fielded the final grounder and threw it to first for the final out. 
• For the game, Jon Young got the start and worked seven strong innings. He gave up one earned run on five hits. Young struck out 12 Cougars and walked just two. Engelkes worked two frames and gave up just one hit without allowing a run to pick up a save.
• At the plate, Thixton accounted for the team's lone extra-base hit. The Wildcats had just four hits in the contest with the other three coming off the bats of Colby Jenkins, Roman and MJ Stavola. 

 

Thixton doubles to right field giving @IWU_Baseball the lead after six!
.@IWU_Baseball 2
Columbia (Mo.) 1
.@NAIA / @Crossroads_NAIA / @NAIABall / @IndWes pic.twitter.com/oLQkFStY2j

— IWU Wildcats (@IWUWildcats) May 18, 2021

NEXT TIME OUT

• The Wildcats take the field again Tuesday at 5 p.m. against either No. 1 Oklahoma Wesleyan or No. 5 Indiana Tech. Live stats and video will be available at IWUWildcats.com.

FOLLOW THE WILDCATS

• Fans can keep up with the latest in Indiana Wesleyan Wildcat Athletics by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
• In addition, Baseball has established its own Twitter pages.