AUBURNDALE, Fla. -- Illinois Wesleyan senior Nick Brune struck out a career-high 14 hitters in a complete game shutout as the Titans took a 7-0 win over Purchase College on Thursday, March 14, at Lake Myrtle Field No. 6 in Auburndale, Fla., as part of the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.

The Titans are 6-3 and the Panthers lost for the first time in four games.

In his second complete game shutout of his career, Brune (2-0) eclipsed his previous best of eight batters fanned in his freshman season vs. Knox College on April 12, 2016. The 14 strikeouts is tied for seventh most by an IWU pitcher and is the most since 2010 when Jason Pankau had 14 Ks against Benedictine.

Offensively, the Titans did their damage in two innings - scoring two in the sixth to open up a 0-0 game and adding five in the seventh. With two outs in the sixth, junior first baseman Dalton Fletcher singled and scored on a double by freshman rightfielder Evan Ranneklev. Ranneklev went to third on a wild pitch and scored on another wild delivery.
With two outs and the bases loaded in the seventh, sophomore catcher Eric Kozlowski delivered a bases-clearing double to right-center to get IWU ahead 5-0. Senior designated hitter Ben Manski brought in Kozlowski with a single and scored on a hit by freshman third baseman Jack Schneider. 

What's Next?
Illinois Wesleyan plays Wheaton College (Mass.) at 4:30 p.m. ET on Friday, March 15. Go here for the live stats link.