UPLAND, 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: Upland, Ind. | Winterholter Field
- Records: IWU - 26-17, 19-11 | TU - 40-3, 27-2
- Game One Score: TU def. IWU 23-13
- Game Two Score: TU def. IWU 17-7
- NAIA Rankings: IWU - NR | TU - #1
GAME ONE RECAP
- In the second game, Taylor took an early lead in the first inning with Brayden Manning hitting a two-run homer. Indiana Wesleyan fought back in the second inning, tying the game at 2-2 with a double from Carson Bush that drove in Nick Wiley and Mark Snowden. However, Taylor quickly regained the lead with a solo homer from Sam Gladd and a two-RBI triple from Manning, going ahead 5-2.
- The third inning proved pivotal as Indiana Wesleyan managed to score two runs, cutting the deficit to 13-4 after Taylor scored eight runs in their half. Taylor added three more runs in the fourth, bringing the score to 16-4. The Wildcats narrowed the gap in the fifth with runs from Vineyard and Wiley, and added another in the sixth from Cayden Jones, but Taylor responded with a solo homer from Kaden Wu to conclude the game at 17-7.
- Cooper Chinn started for Indiana Wesleyan, pitching 2 innings with 10 earned runs on 7 hits, including 3 home runs, while issuing 6 walks and striking out 1. Bryce Legel entered in relief, allowing 9 earned runs on 8 hits over 3.1 innings, and Tate Warner closed the game with .2 innings pitched, allowing 1 walk and 1 hit.
KEY WILDCATS
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.
- Judah Simmons started, allowing 9 earned runs on 7 hits over 2.1 innings. Caleb Olsen provided .2 innings with 1 earned run on 3 hits, Zach Troxel pitched 1 inning giving up 3 earned runs on 4 hits, and Kenna Rankin Jr. pitched strongly for 2 innings, allowing just 1 earned run on 1 hit while striking out 3 batters.
KEY WILDCATS
LOOKING AHEAD
- IWU and Taylor face off again on Saturday at 1:00 PM.
- Links for live stats will be available at IWUWildcats.com.
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