IMPERIAL, Mo. - In a battle of unbeatens, the Illinois Wesleyan University baseball team was overpowered by the University of Chicago Sunday, March 1, at Windsor High School. The Titans (2-2) dropped game one 14-5, before falling 11-4, in the night cap against the Maroons (3-0).

Game One: Chicago 14, Illinois Wesleyan 5
In game one, Chicago scored runs in each of the first six innings to take a 14-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth. A one-out single by Dalton Fletcher (Athens, Ill.-Athens) was followed by a single from senior Garrett Shea (Decatur, Ill.-Warrensburg-Latham), putting runners on the corners with one out for sophomore Evan Ranneklev (Naperville, Ill.-Neuqua Valley). He delivered with a double to score Fletcher. A sac fly brought another Titan across home plate and freshman Blake Niebrugge (Watson, Ill.-Effingham St. Anthony) added a two-run double to close out the scoring in the 14-5 setback.

Seven different players registered hits, including a home run off the bat of senior Nick Figus (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln Way North). Meanwhile, Ranneklev, Niebrugge, and senior Brandon Skopick (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln Way East) each recorded a double. 

On the mound, the Titans used five hurlers, highlighted by freshman Scott Monocchio (Glen Ellyn, Ill.-Glenbard West), who gave up just one hit over three innings of relief work, with two strikeouts.

Game Two: Chicago 11, Illinois Wesleyan 4
Illinois Wesleyan got out in front in its first trip to the plate in the night cap. Figus broke the game open with a double and Skopick followed with a two-run homer, his first of the season, to put the Titans ahead 2-0 with Chicago coming to the plate.

After cutting the IWU lead in half in the first, UC put up a six-spot in the second. An error along with four straight hits, including a three-run blast, gave Chicago the upperhand. A RBI double 7-2 through two frames.

The Maroons added insurance runs in the third and fourth to jump ahead 11-2 with four innings complete.

A balk and a RBI single from Skopick were all Illinois Wesleyan mustered from that point on, as IWU dropped the game by an 11-4 tally.

Skopick and Figus combined for six of the Titans' nine hits. Skopick went 3-for-5 with three runs scored, while Figus finished the day 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored.

A combination of arms provided the pitching for IWU in the night cap, with Shea, Ranneklev, senior Casey Becker (Carol Stream, Ill.-Wheaton North), and junior Matt Blaney (Tinley Park, Ill.-Lincoln Way East) combining to allow one hit over four innings.

Illinois Wesleyan now treks down to the Sunshine State for Spring Break, where the Titans will take part in the RussMat Central Florida Invitational, March 6-14. IWU kicks off the trip Friday, March 6, with a 12:30 p.m. ET first pitch against Illinois College in Auburndale, Fla.