MARION, IND. - Indiana Wesleyan baseball split their doubleheader with Saint Francis (Ind.) on Saturday at Crandall Field, falling 8–6 in the first game before bouncing back with a decisive 11-2 victory in the second. The split secured a 3-1 series win, their second consecutive series win.
THE ESSENTIALS
- Location: Westfield, Ind. | Crandall Family Field
- Records: IWU - 13-12, 7-5 | USF - 5-19, 3-9
- Game One Score: USF def. IWU 29-4
- Game Two Score: IWU def. USF 10-7
- NAIA Rankings: IWU - NR | USF - NR
GAME ONE RECAP
- Indiana Wesleyan struggled to maintain a lead after a strong start in game one, ultimately falling to Saint Francis. The Wildcats out-hit the Cougars with 11 hits but couldn't overcome a three-run surge by their opponents in both the seventh and eighth innings.
- In the second inning, Indiana Wesleyan responded after USF took a 2-0 lead. Ben Seitzinger singled and advanced to third, setting up Trevor Vojtkofsky's RBI single that brought Seitzinger home. The inning ended with the Cougars leading 2-1.
- In the sixth inning, Jay Tomes reached third base following an error by the pitcher. Seitzinger then drove him in with a sacrifice fly to center field, tying the game at 2-2.
- The seventh inning saw USF capitalize on an error, a hit-by-pitch, and a walk, resulting in three runs on two hits, extending its lead to 5-2.
- IWU battled back in the eighth inning. After a pair of singles and a walk, Vojtkofsky delivered a two-RBI single down the right-field line, reducing the deficit to 8-4.
- In the ninth inning, Indiana Wesleyan attempted a comeback. Matthew Drozlek doubled and was replaced by pinch runner Cayden Jones, who was later picked off. Mark Snowden, running for Landon Ruoff, scored on a Seitzinger single, and Tomes also scored, bringing the final score to 8–6 in favor of USF.
- Kevin Corcoran pitched 6 innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs, while striking out three and issuing three walks. He threw 115 pitches, with 74 strikes, and concluded with a WHIP of 1.50, ultimately taking the loss. Zach Troxel entered in relief, pitching .1 inning, surrendering two hits and one earned run with one walk. Tate Warner pitched 1.2 innings, allowing three earned runs on two hits, including a double, while walking two. Bryce Legel closed the game with a scoreless inning, striking out one and allowing no hits.
KEY WILDCATS
GAME TWO RECAP
- In the second game of the doubleheader, Indiana Wesleyan rebounded with a strong offensive performance, scoring eight runs in the first two innings to set the tone for the win.
- In the first inning, Greg Vineyard singled and stole second before Braxton Brosmer drove him in with a single. Ben Seitzinger then doubled to left center, bringing home two more runs, and Carson Bush added an RBI single, setting the score at 4-1 in favor of the Wildcats.
- In the second inning, the red and grey extended their lead with another four runs. Grant Payson walked and was replaced by pinch runner Jackson Mott, who scored on a wild pitch. Vineyard singled and later scored, along with Matthew Drozlek, on Seitzinger's two-RBI single. IWU led 8-1 after two innings.
- The third inning saw two more runs for Indiana Wesleyan. Payson doubled and scored on an error, while Vineyard scored on a sacrifice fly by Drozlek. This increased their lead to 10-2.
- A quiet fourth and fifth inning followed, with neither team scoring. In the sixth inning, Mark Snowden, who had walked, advanced to third on a wild pitch and crossed home plate on another wild pitch, pushing the score to 11-2.
- Caleb Olsen then closed the game by retiring the Cougars in the seventh inning, sealing the 11-2 victory for Indiana Wesleyan.
- Tarick McGlothin pitched 6 innings, allowing 2 earned runs on 6 hits while striking out 4 batters for Indiana Wesleyan. He demonstrated control by issuing only 1 walk and hitting 1 batter over 86 pitches, achieving a strike percentage of 72.1%. Caleb Olsen provided relief, delivering a near perfect inning with 2 strikeouts, needing only 12 pitches to retire all 3 batters he faced.
KEY WILDCATS
LOOKING AHEAD
- IWU faces Goshen at home on Friday, March 20th at 3:00 PM.
- Links for video, and stats will be available at IWUWildcats.com.
FOLLOW THE WILDCATS
#
