FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Indiana Wesleyan baseball team plated a run in the 11
th inning for a hard fought 4-3 victory in game one over the University of Saint Francis Saturday afternoon. In the nightcap, the Wildcats posted a 3-1 win.
• Location: Mishawaka, Ind.
• Records: IWU 19-9 (13-5) I USF 9-19 (4-14)
• Game One Score: BU def.
IWU, 4-1
• Game Two Score: IWU def. BU, 13-5
• NAIA Top-25 Rankings: IWU - Unranked I USF – Unranked
- Bethel jumped on the board with a run in the first and added to the advantage by plating a run in the fourth and fifth stanzas.
- IWU threatened in the sixth as Caleb Engelsman drew a one-out walk. MJ Stavola singled, pushing him to third. However, back-to-back outs ended the threat.
- In the top of the eighth, IWU broke through for a run. Luke Roman registered a one-out single and swiped second. With two down, Stavola ripped a base hit, knocking Roman in to make it 3-1.
- The Pilots tacked on a run in the eighth for a 4-1 edge, but IWU continued to battle. The Wildcats' Greg Vineyard walked and moved to third
- Quinn Willard led the way with three hits while Stavola posted two hits and one RBI. Roman scored the team's lone run.
- On the mound, Drue Young got the start and worked six innings. He had three strikeouts. Cam LaFuze worked the final two innings and had five strikeouts.
- Darien Pugh led off the game with a single. Two batters later, he raced home on a base knock by Luke Roman for a quick 1-0 lead.
- Down 2-1 in the second, a groundout allowed Stavola to score. He started the inning off with a base on balls.
- With the score still at 2-2 in the fifth, Roman unleashed a towering shot for a round tripper, giving the visitors a one-run edge. After a walk to Engelsman, Stavola doubled to put two on. Nick Wiley singled home Engelsman and Stavola scored on a fielder's choice.
- In the sixth, Pugh was hit by a pitch and moved to second on Willard's base hit. After stealing third, Pugh scored on the throw. With Willard and Roman in scoring position, Engelsman's sacrifice fly pushed both runners across home for an 8-2 margin. Wiley belted a lead-off round-tripper in the seventh stanza. With the bases loaded, Pugh was hit by a pitch, driving in Gary Vineyard. Willard and C. Yoder each walked, driving in runs for a 12-4 lead. Stavola's fielder's choice pushed across Pugh.
- For the game, Roman and Wiley each launched home runs and had three hits apiece. The duo, along with Engelsman, registered two RBI apiece. Pugh led the way by scoring three times. Roman and Stavola crossed home twice apiece.
- Brock Buckley got the start and worked 5.1 innings. He had three strikeouts. Gibson Adema tossed the final 1.2 innings and tallied two strikeouts.
- The Wildcats return to action March 30 when they play another doubleheader at Bethel University starting at 1 p.m.
- Links for tickets, video and stats are available at IWUWildcats.com.
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