OSCEOLA, Fla. -- Senior Nick Brune pitched 6 1/3 solid innings to help the Illinois Wesleyan baseball team defeat Marymount University (Va.) by an 8-2 score on Friday, March 8, at Heritage Park in Osceola, Fla., as part of the RussMatt Invitational.

The Titans are 3-1 while the Saints slip tto 2-6 in the first game of their Florida trip.

Brune (1-0) scattered eight hits and allowed one earned run while striking out seven hitters. Junior third baseman Dalton Fletcher provided a first inning sacrifice fly and junior second baseman Jeran Simpson belted a two-run homer, his second of the season, in the third inning to stake the Titans to an early 3-0 lead. IWU erupted for four runs in the sixth inning, two of those coming across unearned on a Marymount throwing error.

Fletcher finished with two runs batted in and junior centerfielder Nick Figus stole two bases and scored three runs in the game.

What's Next?
New Jersey City University will be opening irs 2019 season against Illinois Wesleyan at 5:45 p.m. ET Saturday at Lake Myrtle Park Field No. 8 in Auburndale, Fla. Go here for live stats and video links.