MONTGOMERY, ALA. - Indiana Wesleyan baseball faced two tough opponents in a pair of games on Friday at Harrison Field, falling to Keiser in a high-scoring 10-8 contest and then succumbing to Faulkner with a final score of 4-2. Despite solid performances and strong offensive efforts in both games, the Wildcats were unable to secure a victory.
THE ESSENTIALS
- Location: Hoover, Ala. | Metropolitan Sports Complex
- Records: IWU - 4-5 | KU - 6-2 | FU - 5-1
- Game One Score: KU def. IWU 10-8
- Game Two Score: FU def. IWU 4-2
- NAIA Rankings: IWU - NR | KU - 24 | FU - RV
GAME ONE RECAP
- In the matchup against Keiser, Indiana Wesleyan started strong, scoring a run in the first inning. Greg Vineyard singled and eventually scored on a Ben Seitzinger single, giving the Wildcats an early 1-0 lead. However, Keiser quickly responded with four runs in the bottom of the first, taking a 4-1 lead.
- The Wildcats made a comeback in the third, highlighted by a three-run homer from Matthew Drozlek, bringing home Carson Bush and Grant Payson to narrow the gap to 4-3. Yet, Keiser extended its lead again, scoring four runs in the bottom of the third to make it 10-4 after three innings.
- IWU continued to fight back, adding two runs in the sixth inning with doubles from Drozlek and Nick Wiley. Mark Snowden drove in Drozlek, and Vineyard grounded out to allow Wiley to score, trimming the lead to 10-6. In the seventh, another two runs came from Payson getting hit by a pitch and scoring on a single by Trevor Vojtkofsky, who later scored on a RBI groundout by Drozlek. The Wildcats pulled within two runs, but ultimately fell short, with the game ending 10-8 in favor of Keiser. Indiana Wesleyan recorded 10 hits in the game, matching Keiser's hit total.
- Kevin Corcoran pitched 1.2 innings, allowing six earned runs on six hits and issuing two walks, resulting in a WHIP of 6.67. Tate Warner contributed one inning in relief, surrendering four earned runs on two hits and four walks, while striking out one batter. Judah Simmons managed 2.1 innings without allowing an earned run, striking out four and giving up only one hit. Grayson Schneider closed with three scoreless innings, striking out three and allowing just one hit, maintaining a WHIP of 0.67.
KEY WILDCATS
GAME TWO RECAP
- In the game against Faulkner, Indiana Wesleyan again took an early lead when Trevor Vojtkofsky hit a solo home run in the second inning, making it 1-0. Faulkner responded quickly with a sacrifice fly from C. Robertson that tied the game at 1-1.
- The Wildcats regained the lead in the sixth inning when Greg Vineyard advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Grant Payson's sacrifice fly, putting Indiana Wesleyan ahead 2-1. However, Faulkner tied the game again in the seventh with an RBI single from S. Bridges, sending the game to extras. The eighth inning proved decisive for the Eagles, as J. Perez hit a two-run homer with two outs, sealing the game at 4-2 in favor of Faulkner.
- Cam Lafuze pitched 4.1 innings, allowing just one earned run while striking out two and issuing four walks. Lafuze faced 20 batters, conceding three hits and recording one pickoff. Noah Wathen contributed 3.1 innings in relief, striking out eight batters and allowing three earned runs on four hits, including a home run. Wathen threw 60 pitches, with 44 strikes, maintaining a WHIP of 1.29 for the game.
KEY WILDCATS
LOOKING AHEAD
- The Wildcats rematch Faulkner tomorrow at 2:00 PM.
- Links for 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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