DECATUR, Ill. -- Fast starts in each game staked the Illinois Wesleyan baseball team to early leads and eventual 9-7 and 9-0 wins in a doubleheader against Millikin University at Sunnyside Park in Decatur, Ill., on Saturday, April 23.

Illinois Wesleyan improved to 18-14 overall and 11-5 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Millikin is 15-14 overall and 4-11 in the league.
 
Game One
Illinois Wesleyan got off to a quick start, leading 3-0 after its first at bat and 6-1 after two.
Senior first baseman Matthew Mardis had three hits with a home run and a double and knocked in three runs.
Freshman centerfielder Mitch Pfeiffer, sophomore designated hitter Mike Plecki and freshman second baseman Stephen Billington each had two hits in a 14-hit IWU attack.
Freshman righthanded starter Nick Brune (4-1) went 5 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on six hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
Junior Brian Henry got the last out with two men on base to earn his third save of the season after Millikin had scored two ninth inning runs.
 
Game Two
Illinois Wesleyan got off to another quick start with three in the first, one in the second and two more in the third.
Mardis had a solo home run in the fifth and freshman rightfielder Ben Manski had a two-run homer in the first inning and also smacked a two-run home run in the third.
Junior Nick Huskisson (6-2) pitched seven innings to get the win, striking out nine and allowing four hits. Sophomore lefty Ben Rashid combined on the shutout, going the final two frames and allowing one hit while fanning four.
Billington, who knocked in three runs, and junior catcher Pat Mollo each had two hits as the Titans got 13.
 
What's Next?
Illinois Wesleyan plays next at Augustana on Friday, April 29, at 4 p.m. at Swanson Stadium/Brunner Field in Moline, Ill.