AUBURNDALE, Fla. -- Illinois Wesleyan erupted for seven first-inning runs to stake senior starting pitcher Sean Coonan to a big lead and cruised to an 11-1 win over Babson College in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational at Auburndale, Fla., on Friday, March 17.

In the game shortened by the 10-run rule, the Titans ended a two-game skid and improved to 7-3 while the Beavers are 2-3.

Coonan (1-0) scattered seven hits across six innings, striking out three and walking none before giving way to a scoreless, one-hit seventh tossed by freshman lefty Jim O'Brien.

Freshman centerfielder Nick Figus led ott the game with a walk, followed by a single by junior third baseman Jake Stewart and RBI singles from junior second baseman Gino Cavalieri, senior catcher Pat Mollo, freshman first baseman Garrett Shea. With one out, sophomore John Bosco singled to score Mollo and, after senior shortstop Jarrod Juskiewicz was hit by a pitch, designated hitter Tim Smyk cracked a double to right field to chase home Bosco and Shea. Batting for the second time in the inning, Figus hit a sacrifice fly to center to plate Juskiewicz.

The Titans tacked on single runs in the second, fourth, sixth and seventh innings.

Illinois Wesleyan had 10 hits for the third straight game and all 10 of IWU's games this spring have seen the team with double digit hits.

What's Next?
The Titans wrap up their week in Florida with a 9:15 a.m. game against Trinity (Conn.) in Auburndale, Fla.