INDIANAPOLIS, IND. - Indiana Wesleyan Baseball and Marian University faced off in a doubleheader on Friday at MU Ballpark, with Indiana Wesleyan winning the first game 9–7 and falling in the second game 8–4. After losing a 6-3 lead in game one, IWU took the lead for good on a
Greg Vineyard single that plated two. The second game saw the Wildcats fall behind early and they were unable to pull even with the Knights.
THE ESSENTIALS
- Location: Indianapolis, Ind. | MU Ballpark
- Records: IWU - 18-12, 12-6 | MU - 20-8, 13-5
- Game One Score: IWU def. MU 9-7
- Game Two Score: MU def. IWU 8-4
- NAIA Rankings: IWU - NR | MU - RV
GAME ONE RECAP
- In game one, Marian took an early lead in the first inning after Brayden Coffey doubled and scored on a groundout, putting them ahead 1-0. Indiana Wesleyan remained scoreless through the second inning, while Marian added another run, leading 2-0.
- Indiana Wesleyan responded in the third inning. Jay Tomes walked and later scored on a bases-loaded walk to Trevor Vojtkofsky. Landon Ruoff drew another walk, bringing home Carson Bush. Matthew Drozlek's two-RBI single pushed the Wildcats ahead 4-2.
- In the fourth, Jay Tomes scored on a wild pitch, and Nick Wiley crossed the plate on Carson Bush's RBI single, extending Indiana Wesleyan's lead to 6-2. Marian answered with a run, closing the gap to 6-3.
- Marian tied the game in the fifth inning, scoring three runs, two of which came on a double by Hector Corona, leveling the score at 6-6.
- The seventh inning saw the Wildcats regain the lead. Greg Vineyard's single down the right-field line brought in two runs, and a sacrifice bunt by Braxton Brosmer scored another, making it 9-6. Marian managed one more run with a solo homer from Hector Corona but trailed 9-7. Indiana Wesleyan held the Knights scoreless over the final two innings, securing a 9–7 victory.
- Cam Lafuze started the game for the red and grey, pitching 5 innings with 89 pitches, striking out five batters while allowing eight hits and four earned runs. Zach Troxel provided relief, pitching 2 innings, surrendering one earned run on three hits, including a home run, but managed to register a strikeout. Grayson Schneider pitched 1 inning with three walks and one strikeout, maintaining a scoreless outing despite a wild pitch. Kevin Corcoran closed the game effectively, pitching a perfect inning with two strikeouts on just seven pitches, earning the save.
KEY WILDCATS
GAME TWO RECAP
- In the second game, Marian took an early lead in the first inning. River Pecina tripled, driving in two runs, and later scored on a wild pitch. Aiden Kerr's RBI double capped a four-run inning for Marian, putting them ahead of Indiana Wesleyan (IN) 4-0 after one inning.
- The Wildcats responded in the second inning. Landon Ruoff scored on a wild pitch, and Greg Vineyard delivered a two-RBI single to bring the score to 4-3 by the end of the second inning.
- In the fourth inning, Indiana Wesleyan tied the game. Jackson Mott, who pinch ran, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Nick Wiley's RBI single, leveling the score at 4-4 through four innings.
- The Knights regained the lead in the fifth inning. Hector Corona scored on a single, followed by Nathan Pinarski stealing home. Cole McManus hit a two-run homer, pushing Marian's lead to 8-4 after five innings.
- IWU was unable to score in the remaining innings, and the game concluded with Marian (IN) securing an 8-4 victory over Indiana Wesleyan.
- Noah Wathen pitched 4.1 innings, facing 23 batters, allowing five earned runs on three hits, while walking six and striking out five. He threw 99 pitches, 50 of which were strikes, and finished with a WHIP of 2.20. Caleb Olsen came in relief for 1.2 innings, yielding three earned runs on four hits, including a home run, while recording three strikeouts. Olsen threw 36 pitches with 25 strikes, resulting in a WHIP of 3.33.
KEY WILDCATS
LOOKING AHEAD
- IWU and Marian wrap up the series with a pair g games tomorrow starting at 1:00 PM.
- Links for video, and stats will be available at IWUWildcats.com.
FOLLOW THE WILDCATS
#
