JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – In two games, Illinois Wesleyan freshman first baseman
Garrett Shea went 7-for-9 with three home runs and 10 runs batted in to help the Titans to wins over Lawrence and Chicago on Sunday, March 5 at Lenz Field in Jacksonville, Ill.
The Titans are 4-0 in downing Lawrence (0-3) by a 12-9 score and topping Chicago (2-2) by a 16-6 mark in a game shortened to seven innings.
Against Lawrence, Shea was 3 for 5 with a double, a homer and four runs batted in.
The Titans and Lawrence went back and forth in the first game of the day. IWU jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first but the Vikings plated six runs in the third to get a 6-5 lead.
The game was tied at 9-9 heading to the top of the ninth. Sophomore leftfielder
John Bosco led off with a single followed by a single from senior shortstop
Jarrod Juskiewicz, who finished with three hits. With two outs, senior designated hitter
Tim Smyk doubled home Juskiewicz and Shea doubled home to more runs to give the Titans a 12-9 lead.
The Titans banged out 14 hits with
Ben Manski getting two hits with a home run and four RBI and Smyk getting two hits and two RBI.
Senior
Jonathan Vlk pitched the final two innings, allowing one run on three hits and striking out three, to get the pitching win.
Shea had two homers, including a grand slam in a 4-for-4 outing against the Maroons. The Titans scored six runs in each of the first two innings to stake themselves to a 12-1 lead after two.
Smyk added three hits with two doubles, a homer and three RBI and Juskiewicz also knocked home two runs.
Junior starter
Mike Plecki was the Titans' winning pitcher, going four innings and allowing three runs on six hits with three strikeouts.
What's Next?
Illinois Wesleyan embarks on a different kind of spring trip than the one the school has gone on for the past few decades – IWU will play in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational in Auburndale, Fla., opening with Western New England University on Friday, March 10 at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Go here for the complete schedule.
