LISLE, Ill. -- An early lead didn't hold up as the Illinois Wesleyan baseball team lost by a 9-4 count in a non-conference game to Benedictine on Tueday, April 19, at the Lisle, Ill., Sports Complex.

The loss gives IWU a 16-13 season record and the Eagles improved to 13-11.

Illinois Wesleyan took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when freshman rightfielder Ben Manski doubled to right center, went to third on a single by first baseman Ryne Elvers and scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman second baseman Stephen Billington. A solo home run to lead off the fourth inning by freshman leftfielder John Bosco put IWU ahead 2-0. Manski had three hits with two doubles and Bosco finished with two of the Titans' 10 hits.

With the game tied at 2-2 in the fifth inning, Illinois Wesleyan went ahead by a 4-2 score. With one out, junior shortstop Jarrod Juskiewicz struck out but reached on a wild pitch. Senior third baseman Matthew Mardis and Manski both singled to load the bases before Juskiewicz scored on a wild pitch. Mardis then scored the final Titan run of the night on a single through the left side by sophomore designated hitter Mike Plecki.

Junior lefthander Xander Horwitz (0-1), the second of three Illinois Wesleyan pitchers, was the losing hurler, going one inning and allowing four runs (two earned) on three hits.

What's Next?
The 10th Horenberger-Bass Classic, pitting Illinois Wesleyan against Division I Illinois State, will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday (April 20) at Horenberger Field ... Illinois State is 10-25 after a 9-3 win at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville Tuesday night ... Sponsored this year by Heartland Bank, the "Classic" began in 2004 and alternates between Duffy Bass Field and Horenberger Field each year…Illinois State leads the series, 7-2, and won last season at ISU by a 7-5 score … The 2009, 2011 and 2012 games were rained out and there is a high chance of rain predicted in Bloomington-Normal this year ... The overall rivalry between the two schools dates back to 1890, with Illinois State holding an 86-70 advantage in the all-time series through 2015.