Game One Box Score  |  Game Two Box Score

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Junior righthander Joe Sweeney pitched a no-hitter as Illinois Wesleyan beat North Central, 8-0, in game two of a doubleheader sweep at Horenberger Field on Saturday, May 7. The Titans won the opener, 15-0, on a four-hitter by Jason Pankau and Eric McCullough.

Sweeney (6-3) struck out eight and walked only three in tossing the first no-hitter for Illinois Wesleyan since Erik Zier pitched a seven-inning no-hitter against Wheaton on March 30, 2002. Other recorded IWU no-hitters are by Mike Mulberry (vs. North Central, 1982), Bob Jensen (vs. North Central, 1968) and Ed Gilbert (vs. Lake Forest, 1950).

Illinois Wesleyan (24-13 overall and 14-6 in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) clinched a berth in the CCIW tournament. It is the seventh consecutive time the Titans have qualified for the CCIW tournament, 16th in the last 17 seasons and 24th overall since the tournament began in 1985.

"I felt great," said Sweeney told Pantagraph reporter Jim Benson of his 119-pitch effort. "I don't know if it was adrenaline running through me. I'll probably be sore tomorrow, but I'll worry about that tomorrow."

Sweeney told Benson in a post-game interview that getting the Titans in position to host the league tourney was foremost on his mind. "I was not too concerned about the no-no. I knew what was going on. Everyone knew what was going on. I was just concerned about the win. It was a huge win for us."

Sophomore catcher A.J. Nathan delivered three hits and two RBIs in the second game. Sophomore shortstop Zach Scott, who made a brilliant defensive play in robbing Matt Abraham of a hit with a diving catch, also had three hits, while senior centerfielder Ryan Hopp drove in two runs.

Senior ace Jason Pankau threw six innings allowed no earned runs on three hits and struck out three in a winning effort for the Titans. Pankau improved to 6-2 in his last start of the regular season and was honored along with Hopp and third baseman Jeff Grodecki in pregame "Seniors' Day" ceremonies.
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Pankau was backed with a comfortable lead when the Titans plated 11 runs on nine hits in the third inning. Freshman second baseman Johnathan Erickson and junior rightfielder Kevin Sullivan each had a double and a single in the inning and Erickson, Nathan, sophomore first baseman Kevin Callahan and junior leftfielder Mark McDermott all had two RBI.

IWU added two in the fifth and two in the sixth to end the game by the 10-run rule after seven innings.

Six Titans had multiple hits and five had multiple runs batted in during the victory.

Junior righthander Eric McCullough pitched the last frame allowed one hit and struck out two.

NOTE: In game one, Kevin Callahan drew two walks to tie the IWU single season record of 31 most recently achieved by Mike Morrissey last season.