KOKOMO, IND. - Indiana Wesleyan baseball earned a 12-10 victory over IU Kokomo in 11 innings on Saturday at Kokomo Municipal Stadium. The Wildcats recorded a season-high 17 hits, including seven doubles, contributing to their offensive output. They also scored a season-high 12 runs in this high-scoring affair.
THE ESSENTIALS
- Location: Kokomo, Ind. | Kokomo Municipal Stadium
- Records: IWU - 6-6 | IUK - 0-10
- Game Score: IWU def. IUK 12-10
- NAIA Rankings: IWU - NR | IUK - NR
GAME RECAP
- Indiana Wesleyan opened the game with a strong start, scoring three runs in the first inning. Greg Vineyard set the stage with a walk, followed by Matthew Drozlek, who also walked. Mark Snowden then doubled to right field, driving in two runs. An error allowed Snowden to score, giving the Wildcats a 3-0 lead after one inning.
- In the second inning, Nick Wiley singled and advanced on a passed ball before Cayden Jones, pinch running, scored on Carson Bush's double, extending the lead to 4-0. The Cougars responded with a run of their own on a groundout, making the score 4-1 after two innings.
- The fourth inning saw another burst from the Wildcats with two runs. Trevor Vojtkofsky singled and eventually scored on a single by Bush, who later scored on a wild pitch, increasing the lead to 6-1. However, IUK answered with four runs, highlighted by a two-RBI double from P. Lear, narrowing the gap to 6-5 through four innings.
- The red and grey added two more runs in the fifth inning. Andrew Sinish singled and scored on a double by Wiley. Vineyard followed with an RBI single, bringing the score to 8-5. The sixth inning saw the Cougars score two runs, closing the deficit to 8-7.
- In the seventh, IUK tied the game at 8-8 with a sacrifice bunt, scoring a run. Indiana Wesleyan regained the lead in the eighth inning when Jones, scored on a single by Braxton Brosmer, making it 9-8. However, IU Kokomo scored in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra innings, tied at 9-9.
- The eleventh inning was decisive for Indiana Wesleyan. Wiley doubled, and Vineyard singled, setting the stage for Bush's two-RBI triple. Payson laid down a bunt, allowing Bush to score, pushing the lead to 12-9. IUK managed to score one more run, but the Wildcats secured a 12-10 victory.
- Cooper Chinn pitched 2 innings, allowing 1 earned run on 1 hit, with 3 walks and 2 strikeouts, while throwing 46 pitches, of which 22 were strikes. Kevin Corcoran contributed 1 inning of scoreless pitching, permitting no hits and striking out 1, but issuing 2 walks over 26 pitches, with 12 strikes. Tarick McGlothin delivered a strong performance over 2.2 innings, surrendering just 1 earned run on 1 hit while striking out 1, and maintaining a low WHIP of .45 to earn his third win of the season.
KEY WILDCATS
LOOKING AHEAD
- The Wildcats head to Huntington for a doubleheader on February 27th at 3:30 PM.
- Links for video, and stats will be available at IWUWildcats.com.
NEXT HOME GAME
- IWU returns to Crandall Family Field on February 28th, facing Huntington at 1:00 PM
- Links for video, and stats will be available at IWUWildcats.com.
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