Box Score

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - Illinois Wesleyan won a share of the school's 23rd conference baseball championship with an 8-2 victory at North Central on Sunday, May 8.

Illinois Wesleyan finished with a 15-6 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin record and leads North Park (14-6) by ½ game. IWU will host the league tournament beginning this Thursday at Horenberger Field as the Titans won two of three games this season to own the tie-breaker against the Vikings.
North Park will have to play a make-up game against Augustana this week to determine tournament seeding and to vie for a share of the regular season league title.

It is IWU's first CCIW baseball championship since 2008 and sixth since 2001.

The Titans scored two in the first when sophomore catcher A.J. Nathan reached on a fielder's choice and went to second when sophomore first baseman Kevin Callahan was hit by a pitch. Freshman designated hitter Bobby Czarnowski singled to load the bases ahead of junior leftfielder Mark McDermott doubling down the leftfield line to score Nathan and Callahan. McDermott finished with four runs batted in.

IWU added one in the second and one in the fourth to claim a 4-1 lead, then sent 10 men to the plate as they tacked on four runs on three hits in the sixth to go ahead 8-2.

With one out, junior rightfielder Kevin Sullivan singled and went to third on a double by sophomore second baseman Zach Scott. Senior centerfielder Ryan Hopp, who had three hits in the game, reached on an error that scored Sullivan and sent Scott to third and the bases were loaded after Nathan walked.
Callahan drew a walk to force in a run and leave the bases full and, after Czarnowski reached on a fielder's choice, McDermott provided two more runs batted in with a single through the left side.

Sophomore lefthander Nick Mehn was the winning pitcher and improved to 6-1, allowing two runs on seven hits in seven innings. He struck out two and walked three. Sophomore Anthony Kopp finished the game with two scoreless frames.

The Titans are 25-13 overall and host Concordia Chicago in a 6 p.m. nonleague game on Monday, May 9.