LAKELAND, Fla – The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team let a 4-0 lead after four innings get away and lost for the first time in 2017, falling 6-4 to Western New England to open their spring trip on Friday, March 10, at Henley Field in Lakeland, Fla.
 
Illinois Wesleyan is now 4-1 this season while the Golden Bears improved to 2-1.
 
Playing for the first time in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational, the Titans scored three times in the first inning on a triple by freshman Nick Figus, singles by sophomore outfielder John Bosco and senior shortstop Jarrod Juskiewicz, a double by sophomore Jacob Houghton and a ground out by sophomore Ben Manski.
 
IWU added a run on three hits in the fourth inning as senior catcher Pat Mollo scored on a sacrifice fly by junior Jake Stewart.

The Golden Bears plated a run in the fifth on three walks and a single to make the score 4-1, then collected five runs on six hits (five singles and a double) to churn to a 6-4 lead.
 
Senior starting pitcher Nick Huskisson left the game after 2 2/3 innings with an oblique injury. In his brief start he had allowed just two hits and struck out three. Senior Jonathan Vlk (1-1) took the loss in relief as the third of five Titan pitchers.
 
What's Next?
With its second of seven games in Florida, Illinois Wesleyan plays St. Joseph's College of Maine at 9 a.m. ET on Saturday, March 11.