KINGSPORT, TN. – Indiana Wesleyan Baseball fell to Webber International (Fl.) in a close contest, 8–6, on Wednesday at Hunter Wright Stadium. The Wildcats maintained a steady offense with eight hits and drew 10 walks, but the Warriors' five-run third inning proved decisive. The lose ends the Wildcat's season with a 36-24 record and an appearance in the NAIA Opening Round for the third time in four years. The team also posted their sixth straight season of 30+ wins.
THE ESSENTIALS
- Location: Kingsport, TN. | Hunter Wright Stadium
- Records: IWU - 36-24 | WIU - 39-18
- Game Score: WIU def. IWU 8-6
- NAIA Rankings: IWU - NR | WIU - #8
- Opening Round Seeds: IWU - 4 | WIU - 1
GAME RECAP
- After a scoreless first inning, the Warriors struck first in the bottom of the second. Will Gisriel singled to center and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Austen Jaslove, putting the home team up 1–0.
- The third inning saw a surge from Indiana Wesleyan. Mark Snowden walked and scored alongside Greg Vineyard and Jay Tomes following a series of errors by the Warriors' defense, giving the visitors a 3–1 lead. However, the home team responded in their half. David Zamora and Nomar Vazquez reached base, and a series of hits and errors allowed Webber International to post five runs, reclaiming the lead at 6–3.
- In the top of the fourth, the Wildcats narrowed the gap as Vineyard doubled down the right field line to score Snowden, making it 6–4.
- Continuing their comeback, Indiana Wesleyan added another run in the fifth inning. Matthew Drozlek singled and later scored on a bases-loaded walk to Carson Bush, cutting the deficit to 6–5.
- The sixth inning saw both teams add to their totals. Jay Tomes scored on a single by Ben Seitzinger, leveling the score at 6–6. However, the Warriors responded with two runs of their own, capitalizing on a series of hits and an error to lead 8–6.
- The final innings remained scoreless, with Indiana Wesleyan unable to close the gap further. WIU secured the win with a final score of 8–6.
- Tarick McGlothin started for the Wildcats, pitching 2.1 innings, allowing five hits, two earned runs, and one walk, while striking out one on 53 pitches. Judah Simmons came in as relief, pitching .1 innings, conceding one hit, hitting one batter, and allowing one run with one strikeout. Zach Troxel provided a strong performance in extended relief, pitching 5.1 innings, allowing four hits and one earned run, with one walk over 72 pitches, taking the loss to bring his record to 2–2.
KEY WILDCATS
FOLLOW THE WILDCATS
#
