MARION, IND.  - Indiana Wesleyan Baseball secured a pair of victories over Mount Vernon Nazarene on Saturday. Following a win of 4-2 earlier in the day at Crandall Family Field, IWU defeated the Cougars 9-4 to cap off a 3-1 series win. The Wildcats showcased offensive strength, highlighted by a crucial five-run fifth inning in the second game, while strong pitching performances marked both games.

THE ESSENTIALS

• Location: Marion, Ind. | Crandall Family Field
• Records: IWU - 26-15, 19-9 | MVNU - 19-22, 9-19
• Game One Score: IWU def. MVNU 4-1
• Game Two Score: IWU def. MVNU 9-4
• NAIA Rankings: IWU - NR | MVNU - NR

  
GAME ONE RECAP

• In the first game, Indiana Wesleyan edged past Mount Vernon Nazarene with a 4-2 victory. The scoring initiated in the first inning when Greg Vineyard walked and advanced to third on a bunt error. Jay Tomes then scored on a sacrifice fly by Ben Seitzinger, putting Indiana Wesleyan ahead 2-1 after the first inning.
• A quiet stretch followed until the eighth inning, when Seitzinger singled and Nick Wiley added another single, putting two runners on base. Mark Snowden delivered a single to center field, scoring Seitzinger, and Vineyard doubled up the middle, bringing home Andrew Sinish for a 4-1 lead through eight innings. Mount Vernon Nazarene added a run in the ninth, but the Wildcats held on for the win.
• Noah Wathen delivered a standout performance for Indiana Wesleyan, pitching 5.2 innings and allowing just one earned run. He struck out 13 batters, demonstrating effective control with 73 strikes out of 121 pitches. Zach Troxel came on in relief, pitching 3.1 innings and conceding one earned run while throwing 36 strikes in 47 pitches. Wathen's effort earned him a win, improving his record to 5-2 for the season.

KEY WILDCATS

• Greg Vineyard - 2-4, 1 RBI, 1 run
• Braxton Brosmer - 2-4
• Noah Wathen - W, 5.2 IP, 13 K, 1 ER

GAME TWO RECAP

• In the second game, Greg Vineyard ignited the offense by starting the third inning with a bunt single and later stealing two bases. Matthew Drozlek grounded out to the pitcher, allowing Vineyard to score and give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead through three innings.
• In the fourth inning, Nick Wiley singled and advanced on an error. Grant Payson followed with an RBI single, scoring Wiley. A failed pickoff attempt and a wild pitch allowed Mark Snowden and Jackson Mott to score unearned runs, increasing the lead to 4-0 through four innings.
• The Cougars responded in the fifth with a solo home run by Brennen Nichols, but IWU extended its lead further in the bottom half, with Braxton Brosmer scoring on a single by Ben Seitzinger and subsequent hits from Snowden and Landon Ruoff, plus an RBI single from Jay Tomes, pushing the lead to 9-1 after five innings.
• MVNU narrowed the gap in the sixth with a two-run homer by Ryan Willoughby, but Indiana Wesleyan maintained control, concluding the game with a final score of 9-4.
• Kevin Corcoran pitched 6.2 innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits, including two home runs. He struck out eight batters while walking one, throwing a total of 94 pitches with 61 strikes. Judah Simmons entered in relief, pitching .1 innings and giving up three hits on 20 pitches, with 14 strikes. 

KEY WILDCATS

• Nick Wiley - 2-2, 1 run
• Landon Ruoff - 1-1, 2 RBI
• Kevin Corcoran - W, 6.2 IP, 8 K

LOOKING AHEAD

• IWU faces #1 Taylor in Upland on April 17th at 3:00 PM.
• Links for live stats will be available at IWUWildcats.com.

FOLLOW THE WILDCATS

• Follow Athletics (@IWUWildcats): X | Instagram | Facebook
• Follow Baseball (@indwesbaseball): X | Instagram | Facebook

#