BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- Freshman pitcher Nick Brune allowed just two runs while throwing a complete game for the Illinois Wesleyan baseball team to help the Titans to a 10-2 victory over No. 23 North Central at Jack Horenberger Field on Sunday, April 17. 

IWU was able to avoid the season sweep at the hands of the Cardinals to improve to 16-12 overall and 8-4 in the CCIW while North Central slipped to 19-5 overall and 8-4 in the conference.

Illinois Wesleyan broke through for a single run in the first inning when freshman Ben Manski drove in senior third baseman Matthew Mardis and added a second run in the third on a sophomore Tim Smyk single. Leading 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth, Smyk drove in his second run of the game to give the Titans a 3-1 run before erupting for four runs in the bottom of the sixth. IWU scored one in the seventh and two in the eighth to give the Cardinals no chance of a comeback.

Illinois Wesleyan pounded out 15 hits in the game, leaving 14 players on base despite scoring a series-high 10 runs in the game. Smyk finished the game by going 4-for-5 at the dish while driving in four runs and freshman John Bosco had two doubles in three hits. 

Brune gave up 12 hits in the game, but stranded 11 NCC baserunners on his way to striking out seven and issuing only one walk. 

What's Next? 
A non-conference matchup at Benedictine University on Tuesday, April 19th at 6 p.m. will be the next hurdle for the Titans to face.