TIFTON, GA. - Indiana Wesleyan baseball achieved a thrilling doubleheader sweep over Abraham Baldwin (Ga.) on Friday, edging out the Stallions with a 5-4 victory in the first game and a narrow 7-6 win in the second. The wins mark the first as a Wildcat for first year Head Coach
Mathew Bair.
Nick Wiley's home run in game two pushed his career total to 43 as he chases Lucas Goodin's program record of 47.
THE ESSENTIALS
- Location: Tifton, GA. | Stallion Baseball Field
- Records: IWU - 2-0 | ABAC - 3-2
- Game One Score: IWU def. ABAC 7-6
- Game Two Score: IWU def. ABAC 5-4
GAME ONE RECAP
- in the first game of the day, Indiana Wesleyan faced a tightly contested matchup. Abraham Baldwin took an early lead in the second inning, scoring three runs with D. Davis and D. Rothschil leading the charge. Rothschil's double brought home two runs, establishing a 3-0 lead.
- Indiana Wesleyan responded in the fourth as Grant Payson hit a solo home run, narrowing the gap to 3-1. However, the Stallions extended their lead to 5-2 in the fifth with a two-run homer from Rothschil. The Wildcats fought back, with Nick Wiley scoring on a sacrifice fly by Andrew Sinish.
- In the seventh, Mark Snowden's solo home run made it 5-3. IWU seized momentum in the eighth inning, scoring two runs thanks to a crucial RBI single from Braxton Brosmer and an error from ABAC, tying the game at 5-5. In the ninth, Landon Ruoff's two-RBI double put Indiana Wesleyan ahead 7-5. Although Rothschil hit another home run for ABAC in the bottom of the ninth, Indiana Wesleyan held on to complete the victory.
- Cam Lafuze made his first career start, going 4 innings, allowing 4 hits and 3 earned runs while striking out 3 batters. Noah Wathen contributed 3.2 innings of relief, yielding 4 hits and 2 earned runs, with 2 strikeouts. Tarick McGlothin closed out the game with 1.1 innings of work, giving up 2 hits and 1 earned run, striking out 1 and earning the win.
KEY WILDCATS
GAME TWO RECAP
- In game two, Indiana Wesleyan started strong with two singles in the first inning but failed to score. Abraham Baldwin struck first, taking a 1-0 lead when D. Rothschil's RBI single brought home Q. Rawls. The Wildcats responded in the second inning as Nick Wiley tied the game with a solo home run, leveling the score at 1-1.
- The decisive moment came in the fourth inning when Indiana Wesleyan scored three runs. Matthew Drozlek was hit by a pitch and later scored on Andrew Sinish's RBI single. A wild pitch allowed Jay Tomes to score, and Trevor Vojtkofsky's sacrifice fly brought home Greg Vineyard, extending the lead to 4-1. ABAC managed to score one run in the bottom half, thanks to a C. Cash home run, making it 4-2.
- In the sixth inning, Vineyard reached on a single and crossed the plate on a wild pitch, adding an unearned run for the Wildcats. The Stallions made a late push, scoring two runs in the sixth on three hits, including a K. Taylor RBI double, narrowing the gap to 5-4. However, the Indiana Wesleyan defense held firm in the final innings, allowing no further runs, and secured the 5-4 victory.
- Kevin Corcoran got the start on the mound, pitching 4 innings, allowing 4 hits and 2 earned runs while striking out 5 batters. He maintained a WHIP of 1.25, issuing just 1 walk and 1 hit by pitch. Caleb Olsen entered in fifth inning, earning the win after 5 innings with 3 strikeouts and 0 walks.
KEY WILDCATS
LOOKING AHEAD
- The Wildcats wrap up their series with ABAC tomorrow at 11:00 AM.
- Links for video and stats will be available at IWUWildcats.com.
NEXT HOME GAME
- IWU opens their home schedule on February 20th, taking on IUK at 3:00 PM
- Links for video, and stats will be available at IWUWildcats.com.
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