MARION, Ind. – The Indiana Wesleyan baseball team swept Mount Vernon Nazarene University Friday afternoon. After claiming a 3-0 win in the opener, the Wildcats scored two runs in the eighth inning for a 6-5 win in the nightcap.   
 
 

THE ESSENTIALS

 

• Location: Marion, Ind. | Wildcat Field
• Records: IWU - 23-9, 17-5 | MVNU - 15-15, 11-9
• Game One Score: IWU def. MVNU 3-0
• Game Two Score: IWU def. MVNU 6-5 (8 innings)
• NAIA Top-25 Rankings: IWU - Unranked | MVNU - Unranked

 

 

GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS

 

 

• Darien Pugh led off the first and was hit by a pitch. After a hit from Andrew Sinish, Pugh scored on a Luke Roman bunt. 
• Sinish started the third with a base hit to center field. After moving to second on a Roman base knock, he hustled to third on Nick Wiley's groundout. MJ Stavola's groundout plated Sinish for a 2-0 advantage. 
• In the sixth, Stavola drew a one-out walk and moved to second when Quinn Willard reached on an error. Greg Vineyard's double down the right field line allowed Stavola to cross home plate for a 3-0 edge.  
• For the game, Roman, Sinish and Vinyeard had two hits apiece – and that accounted for the six hits by the Wildcats. Vineyard had the team's lone extra-base hit. 
• Drue Young got the start and worked seven frames for the shutout victory. He had eight strikeouts and gave up just two hits. Will Eldridge had three strikeouts while notching the save.

 

GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS

 

 

• Down 1-0 in the first, Pugh walked, stole second and moved to third on a groundout. Roman's fly ball to center field plated Pugh.
• Trailing 2-1 in the third, Willard singled up the middle and swiped second with one down. On a walk to Wiley, Willard stole third base. Willard scored when Stavola reached on an error. 
• IWU trailed 3-2 in the fourth frame, but Zach Green drew a one-out walk. Colin Yoder entered as a pinch runner. After going to second on a fielder's choice, he scored on Pugh's base knock to right center field. Pugh moved to second on a balk and scored on Willard's single to right center field.  
• MVNU tied the contest in the fifth and neither team could break the tie until the eighth. The visitors pushed across a run, but IWU battled back. With one down, Stavola drew a walk and moved to second on a passed ball. Vineyard's double down the right field line knotted the score as Stavola crossed home. Jay Tomes singled home Vineyard for the game-winning run.  
• Vineyard led the way with three doubles and one RBI. Pugh and Willard had two hits apiece while Pugh crossed home twice.
• Brock Buckley got the start and worked four frames. He had three strikeouts and did not get a decision. Cam LaFuze struck out five in four innings of work to pick up the win.

  

    

NEXT TIME OUT

 

• The Wildcats return to action tomorrow for the final two games of the series starting at 12 p.m

 

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