SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – Indiana Wesleyan baseball faced off against the top ranked Trojans in a thrilling doubleheader on Monday, securing a dramatic 10-9 victory in the first game to force the if necessary game, before narrowly falling 12-11 in the finale. The Wildcats showcased their offensive prowess, recording a total of 31 hits across both games, but the in the second game the offense was unable to overcome an early scoring surge from the Trojans.
THE ESSENTIALS
- Location: Spring Arbor, Mich. | Burbridgel Field
- Records: IWU - 34-22 | TU - 48-5
- Game One Score: IWU def. TU 11-10
- Game Two Score: TU def. IWU 12-11
- NAIA Rankings: IWU - NR | TU - #1
- CL Seeds: IWU - 4 | TU - 1
GAME ONE RECAP
- In the first game, IWU edged TU with a final score of 10-9. The Wildcats began strong in the second inning when Ben Seitzinger singled to center field, followed by Nick Wiley, who hit a two-run homer to right center, giving Indiana Wesleyan an early 2-0 lead. Taylor responded with a run in their half, making it 2-1 after two innings.
- The Wildcats maintained their momentum in the third inning, as Greg Vineyard walked and Jay Tomes executed a successful bunt single. Seitzinger then delivered a two-RBI single, and Trevor Vojtkofsky added an RBI single to extend the lead to 5-2, although TU managed to score once more in their half of the inning.
- In the fourth inning, the Trojans closed the gap, scoring two runs due to a throwing error, making the score 5-4. The fifth inning saw Braxton Brosmer single, followed by a two-run homer from Matthew Drozlek, increasing Indiana Wesleyan's lead to 7-4, while Taylor failed to score in their half.
- A pivotal moment came in the eighth inning when Brosmer doubled to left center, driving in Tomes. Despite Taylor's three runs in the bottom half, Indiana Wesleyan held on to an 8-7 lead. In the final inning, Seitzinger singled, and Wiley hit his second home run of the game, a two-run shot to right center. TU attempted a comeback with two runs but fell short, finalizing the score at 10-9.
- Tate Warner pitched 3.2 innings, allowing three earned runs on three hits and four walks, with one strikeout. Kenna Rankin Jr. relieved Warner, also pitching 3.2 innings, surrendering three earned runs on five hits and striking out seven to secure his first win of the season. Grayson Schneider pitched one inning, giving up two earned runs with four walks and one hit, while Zach Troxel closed the game, pitching .2 innings and earning the save.
KEY WILDCATS
GAME TWO RECAP
- In the second game, Indiana Wesleyan fell short in a dramatic 12-11 loss to Taylor. The Wildcats began the second inning with a Nick Wiley single who advanced on Vojtkofsky's double. Jackson Mott pinch ran and scored alongside Wiley on Mark Snowden's single to left, making it 3-2 after two innings.
- IWU added two more runs in the fourth inning, with Seitzinger walking and advancing to third on Vojtkofsky's double. Seitzinger scored on a wild pitch, and Mott, who pinch ran again, scored on Snowden's sacrifice fly, bringing the score to 7-4. Vojtkofsky homered in the sixth inning, driving in Wiley after a fielder's choice, cutting the deficit to 9-6, but the Trojans responded with two runs, keeping the lead at 11-6.
- In the seventh, Jay Tomes singled and stole second, eventually scoring on Seitzinger's double. Wiley's groundout brought home another run, but Taylor added one more in the seventh, extending its lead to 12-8. The eighth inning saw Indiana Wesleyan close the gap as Snowden scored on Tomes' double after reaching on a single. The score was narrowed to 12-9.
- In a tense ninth inning, Seitzinger doubled and scored on Vojtkofsky's second homer of the game, bringing the score to 12-11. However, the comeback fell just short, ending the game with Indiana Wesleyan down by one run.
KEY WILDCATS
LOOKING AHEAD
- IWU will learn their NAIA Opening Round site and opponents on Wednesday at 5:00 PM.
- The selection show can be viewed by clicking HERE.
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