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Illinois Wesleyan 10, Buena Vista 3 - Box Score

MOLINE, Ill. - The unlikely run of the Illinois Wesleyan baseball team in the NCAA tournament will continue into the championship round after a 10-3 win over Buena Vista in the Central regional championship. The Titans (27-20) will meet Shenandoah (38-8) at 7:45 p.m. Friday, May 28 in the first round at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, Wis.

The Titans, winners of seven straight, will make their second-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III Championships and first since 2001. This year, Illinois Wesleyan is making its eighth NCAA Division III tournament appearance, fifth in the last seven years and first since 2008. By virtue of the four straight wins in the regional, Illinois Wesleyan now has a 15-15 overall record in NCAA postseason play.

The Shenandoah Hornets won four straight games to win the Fayetteville (N.C.) Regional.

Catcher Mark McDermott was named the regional's "Most Outstanding Player" and was joined on the all-tournament team by first baseman Casey McIntosh, pitcher Jason Pankau, third baseman Jeff Grodecki, and outfielder Ryan Hopp.

The Titans got more solid pitching from starter Paul Kabbes, who improved to 3-4 as he went seven innings, allowed three runs on six hits and struck out four. Joe Sweeney pitched the final two scoreless innings with three hits and two strikeouts.

The Titans jumped on top early with two runs in the first inning. Senior second baseman Brett Moore singled, senior designated hitter Mike Morrissey walked and senior first baseman Casey McIntosh singled off the pitcher's glove to load the base. Kevin Sullivan singled to right field to score Moore before Ryan Hopp grounded into double play that scored Morrissey.

Illinois Wesleyan added three runs in the third, again loading the bases with no one out. Morrissey walked, McIntosh singled and Sullivan singled. After Hopp lined out to centerfield, third baseman Jeff Grodecki singled to left field to score Morrissey. Freshman shortstop Zach Scott's grounded out plated McIntosh before catcher Mark McDermott hit a single to rightfield to score Sullivan.

Buena Vista scored a run in the fourth when Brad Blum walked and Michael Stephenson followed with a single to leftfield to get Blum to third. With one out, Michael Hoffman hit a sacrifice fly to left that scored Blum.

IWU scored a single run in the fourth when Ladd led off with a double to right center and scored on a single by Moore.

Four more runs scored in the fifth when Sullivan doubled and scored on a single by Hopp. After Hopp stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error, Grodecki singled him home. Scott sacrificed Grodecki to second and he went to third on a wild pitch. After McDermott was hit by a pitch, Ladd doubled to score Grodecki and Moore singled to score Ladd scored.

Buena Vista added single runs in the sixth and seventh with one coming on a homer to left center by Brandon Pietrzyk. 

Wednesday, May 19
Illinois Wesleyan 2, Buena Vista 1
Rose-Hulman 5, North Central 4 (11 innings)
Webster 6, Ripon 0

Thursday, May 20
Buena Vista 8, North Central 5 (North Central eliminated)

Friday, May 21
Illinois Wesleyan 14, Ripon 8
Webster 7, Rose-Hulman 1

Saturday, May 22
Illinois Wesleyan 8, Webster 3
Buena Vista 11, Rose-Hulman 6 (Rose-Hulman eliminated)
Buena Vista 13, Webster 8 (Webster eliminated)

Sunday, May 22
Illinois Wesleyan, Buena Vista