MOLINE, Ill. – The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team erupted for 22 hits and scored a 12-2 win in game two to salvage a split of a doubleheader against Augustana College on Sunday, April 23, at Swanson Stadium in Moline, Ill.
 
IWU remains in first place in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin with a 12-5 record and the Titans are 19-12 overall. Augustana is 10-7 in the conference and 24-9 overall.
IWU has a two-game lead over both Augie and North Central (10-5).
 
The Titans lost game one by a 14-5 score as the Vikings had 15 hits and took advantage of four IWU errors. Senior catcher Pat Mollo and sophomore designated hitter Jonathan Broadbear each had two of IWU's 10 hits and Jacob Houghton had a double for the team's only extra base knock.
 
Senior righthander Jonathan Vlk (2-3) absorbed the loss, going five innings and allowing six runs (four earned) on eight hits.
 
In the nightcap, IWU scored two in the sixth, one in the seventh and had a six-run, six-hit ninth inning. Junior third baseman Jake Stewart (double, triple) and senior shortstop Jarrod Juskiewicz (two doubles) each had four-hit games while freshman centerfielder Nick Figus, Mollo (two doubles) and sophomore leftfielder John Bosco all had three-hit games.
 
Freshman lefthanded starter Jim O'Brien improved to 2-0 as he pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits with a strikeout and two walks. Sophomore Nick Brune scattered three hits and struck out two in the final 3 2/3 innings to get a save.
 
What's Next?
Augustana and Illinois Wesleyan will battle again on Tuesday, April 25, in a 6 p.m. game at IWU's Horenberger Field.