MARION, IND. - Indiana Wesleyan Baseball faced off against Mount Vernon Nazarene in a thrilling doubleheader at Crandall Family Field on Thursday, resulting in a loss of 17-12 in the first game and a hard-fought victory of 11-9 in the second.
Greg Vineyard played hero in game two with a two out, grand slam to put IWU up 10-8 in the bottom of the fifth after the Wildcats had trailed 8-1.
THE ESSENTIALS
- Location: Marion, Ind. | Crandall Family Field
- Records: IWU - 24-15, 17-9 | MVNU - 19-20, 9-17
- Game One Score: MVNU def. IWU 17-12
- Game Two Score: IWU def. MVNU 11-9
- NAIA Rankings: IWU - NR | MVNU - NR
GAME ONE RECAP
- In game one, MVNU opened the scoring in the second inning with a run from Jack Schreck, who scored on a bases-loaded walk. Rider Minnick then singled to drive in two additional runs, giving the Cougars a 3-1 lead after Indiana Wesleyan scored one run in their half of the inning when Matthew Drozlek crossed home on a wild pitch.
- Indiana Wesleyan added a run in the third inning when Greg Vineyard doubled and later scored on a double by Braxton Brosmer, narrowing the gap to 3-2. MVNU extended its lead in the fourth inning; after a bases-loaded walk scored Carter LaPata, Kaid Carpenter's double brought in three more runs, ending the inning with the Cougars leading 7-2.
- In the fifth inning, MVNU scored an unearned run when Brennen Nichols crossed home, making it 8-2. However, the seventh inning saw a surge from the Wildcats, who scored six runs. Carson Bush's RBI double started the rally, followed by Brosmer's two-RBI single. Ben Seitzinger doubled to drive in two more runs, and a balk allowed another run to score, bringing the score to 10-8 in favor of MVNU.
- The Cougars added two runs in the eighth, including a solo home run by Ryan Willoughby, extending their lead to 12-8. In the ninth inning, MVNU scored five runs, highlighted by a two-RBI single from Andrew Moffitt, pushing their lead to 17-8. The Wildcats responded with four runs in the bottom of the ninth all coming with two out, featuring a two-run homer from Landon Ruoff and Bush's double that brought in two more runs, concluding the game at 17-12 in favor of MVNU.
- Cooper Chinn pitched 4 innings, allowing 7 earned runs on 3 hits while striking out 7 batters and walking 6, throwing 90 pitches with 43 strikes. Zach Troxel followed with 2 innings, giving up 1 earned run on 3 hits and 1 home run, delivering 21 strikes out of 29 pitches. Tate Warner pitched 2 innings, conceding 3 earned runs on 4 hits, including 1 home run, and struck out 1 batter. Caleb Olsen faced challenges in his .2 inning appearance, surrendering 5 earned runs on 4 hits with 1 hit by pitch. Kenna Rankin Jr. closed the game, pitching .1 of an inning.
KEY WILDCATS
GAME TWO RECAP
- In game two, Indiana Wesleyan and Mount Vernon Nazarene both scored in the first inning, with Jay Tomes doubling and advancing to third on an error, allowing him to score on Brosmer's sacrifice fly, resulting in a 1-1 tie. MVNU took control in the third inning as Rider Minnick's single and Brady Lester's three-run homer gave them a four-run lead, which was increased by Kaid Carpenter's solo home run, ending the inning with the Cougars leading 6-1. They would also add two runs in the 4th.
- However, the Wildcats' offense erupted in the fifth inning. Carson Bush started with a single, and Greg Vineyard walked. Tomes' double scored Bush, followed by Drozlek's two-RBI single. A series of plays, including Nick Wiley reaching on an error and Grant Payson's RBI single, set the stage for Vineyard's grand slam. Indiana Wesleyan scored nine runs to take a 10-8 lead at the end of the inning.
- In the sixth, MVNU's Lester added an unearned run with a sacrifice fly, but Indiana Wesleyan responded with Andrew Sinish scoring on Ben Seitzinger's double, maintaining an 11-9 lead through six innings. IWU's pitching held in the seventh, with Judah Simmons striking out two to secure the victory, leading to a final score of 11-9.
KEY WILDCATS
- Greg Vineyard - 1-2, 4 RBI, 2 runs, HR
- Matthew Drozlek - 3-4, 2 RBI, 1 run
- Judah Simmons - S, 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 Hits, 2 K
LOOKING AHEAD
- IWU and MVNU rematch on Saturday at 1:00 PM.
- Links for live stats will be available at IWUWildcats.com.
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