BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (Saturday, April 21) -- The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team topped Augustana 4-1 in the opener before falling 7-5 in the nightcap of a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin doubleheader at Horenberger Field on Saturday, April 21.

Illinois Wesleyan has an 18-11 record and a mark of 9-7 in the CCIW while Augustana is 19-10 overall and 7-7 in the league. The Titans and Vikings will meet again on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Swanson Stadium/Brunner Field in Moline, Ill.

In the first game, senior third baseman Gino Cavalieri had two RBI singles in the sixth and eight innings, while senior second baseman Jake Stewart and junior leftfielder John Bosco also had two hits. Senior Mike Plecki brought home a run with an eighth inning sacrifice fly and rightfielder Jacob Houghton smacked a solo home run in the second inning.

Sophomore Braden Miller and freshman Eric Bennes (2-2) combined on a five-hitter as Miller worked the first five innings, allowing a run on four hits, and Bennes threw the final four innings of scoreless, one-hit relief.

In the second game, Illinois Wesleyan scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth and left the bases loaded to make a 7-0 game interesting before Augustana closer Mitch Malone earned his sixth save of the year. Sophomore centerfielder Nick Figus had two of the Titans' seven hits (all singles).

Freshman Nick Watson (2-2), the second of seven Illinois Wesleyan hurlers, was the losing pitcher.