AUBURNDALE, Fla. -- Illinois Wesleyan senior designated hitter Ben Manski had four hits to lead a 16-hit attack as the Illinois Wesleyan baseball team came from behind to grab a 12-11 win over New Jersey City University on Saturday, March 9, at Lake Myrtle Park Field No. 8 in Auburndale, Fla., as part of the RussMatt Invitational.

The Titans are 4-1 this season while the Gothic Knights lost their first game played this season. Illinois Wesleyan scored seven runs in the top of the sixth to get a 10-3 lead but allowed three runs in the sixth and seventh innings and two more in the eighth to fall behind 11-10.
In the ninth, a leadoff double by junior centerfielder Nick Figus and an infield single by senior leftfielder John Bosco had runners at the corners when an errant pickoff throw allowed the tying run to score and Bosco to advance to third. He scored two batters later on a single by freshman rightfielder Evan Ranneklev.

Manski had two doubles, a home run and two runs batted in to lead the IWU offense. Ranneklev had three hits with a triple and four runs batted in while Figus had two hits with a double and sophomore catcher Eric Kozlowski added two hits with a double and two RBI.

Sophomore righthander Matt Blaney (1-0), the sixth IWU hurler of the night, got the win by pitching the last two innings, allowing one hit and striking out two.

What's Next?
Illinois Wesleyan plays St. Joseph's College of Maine at 9:30 a.m. ET at the Chain of Lakes Stadium in Winter Haven, Fla.  Go here for live stats and video links.