(Heidelberg photos by Larry Radloff)

NCAA Division III Baseball Championships Web Site

Illinois Wesleyan 2010 Baseball Postseason Media Guide

Illinois Wesleyan 4, Heidelberg 3 - Box Score

SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY, MAY 30
12 p.m. – Johns Hopkins (43-6) vs. SUNY Cortland (37-9-1)
3:30 p.m. –Wis.-Stevens Point (34-17) vs. Heidelberg (41-7)
7 p.m. – Linfield (34-10) vs. Illinois Wesleyan (29-20)

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. - A triple by freshman Zach Scott drove home Jeff Grodecki with what proved to be the winning run in the eighth and senior righthander Brent Kulavic tossed a complete game six-hitter as Illinois Wesleyan beat Heidelberg, 4-3, in the NCAA Division III College World Series in Grand Chute, Wis.

The Titans, who have now won nine straight to improve to 29-20, will face Linfield at 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 30, in a winners' bracket game. The victory assures IWU of no worse than a fourth place finish and also guarantees the Titans will play a game on Monday, May 31.

A two-out rally gave Illinois Wesleyan its first lead of the game in the eighth, going ahead 4-3 when Grodecki doubled down the rightfield line and Scott tripled to deep right-centerfield.

Kulavic, who bettered his record to 6-2, struck out two in the ninth to punctuate the game and finished with six strikeouts while walking none. Heidelberg, who came into the tournament ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Division III poll, fell to 41-7 with the loss that ended an 18-game winning streak.

After falling behind, 2-0 in the third, the Titans tied the game in the fifth. Grodecki led off with a double to left center. Scott was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. Catcher Mark McDermott beat out a sacrifice bunt to load the bases. Kraig Ladd hit into a double play as McDermott was called out sliding into second. Grodecki scored on a wild pitch and Brett Moore singled to rightfield to bring home Scott and tie the game at 2-2. Morrissey struck out to end the inning.

Heidelberg starting pitcher Brian Koehl was in trouble of his own making in the sixth but the Titans didn't capitalize on the wildness. Senior first baseman Casey McIntosh started the sixth with a walk and sophomore rightfielder Kevin Sullivan was hit by a pitch.
Centerfielder Ryan Hopp's sacrifice bunt sent the runners to second and third. After Grodecki looked at strike three, Scott walked to load the bases before McDermott struck out swinging.

Illinois Wesleyan tied the game at 3-3 in the seventh when Ladd led off the seventh with a double to left center and went to third when Moore grounded out to short. Morrissey hit a sharp single to centerfield to plate Ladd.