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Evan Ranneklev In Batters Box
23
Winner Illinois Wesleyan IWU 9-8
4
Knox College KCBS 1-9
Winner
Illinois Wesleyan IWU
9-8
23
Final
4
Knox College KCBS
1-9
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Illinois Wesleyan IWU 3 0 9 0 5 3 3 23 17 1
Knox College KCBS 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 4 6 7

W: McFarlane, Morgan (1-1) L: Caleb Hay (0-2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Baseball Powers Past Prairie Fire

Offense deposited two homers in 17 hit effort

GALESBURG, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University baseball team pummeled the Prairie Fire of Knox College in a non-conference nine-inning affair Tuesday, March 29. The Green and White won by a 23-4 tally to boost the team's record to 9-8, while Knox fell to 1-9 on the year with the setback.

The Titans wasted little time garnering a lead, scoring three runs on three hits in the opening frame. Senior Cole Greer (Springfield, Ill.-Pleasant Plains) led off the afternoon with a single to get things rolling for the Green and White. Greer advanced to second on a wild pitch, and then stole third. Senior Evan Ranneklev (Naperville, Ill.-Neuqua Valley) then laced a double, driving in Greer to generate a quick 1-0 advantage. IWU increased the lead to 2-0 via a Prairie Fire miscue. Jalen Ping (Chatham, Ill.-Glenwood) found a pitch to his liking for his 10th two-bagger of the season, allowing senior Dominic DiLello (Springfield, Ill.-Sacred Heart Griffin) to scamper home to give the Titans a 3-0 first inning lead. 

IWU got things going again in the third inning after back-to-back hit by pitches led off the a nine-run frame. Ping notched his second hit of the afternoon, this time driving in DiLello to expand the lead, 4-0. Junior Ethan Burgh (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Prospect) followed in Ping's footsteps, also singling, as senior Jared Mutter (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way East) crossed the plate for a 5-0 cushion. Sophomore Louis Perona (Chicago, Ill.-Lane Tech) represented the sixth Titan in a row to reach base safely before recording an out as the Chicago, Ill. native singled, driving in two, to push the lead to 7-0. The Green and White enjoyed a 9-0 lead after another Knox miscue. The inning was highlighted by a Ranneklev three-run blast that pushed the IWU lead to 12-0.

The Prairie Fire tallied three runs in the bottom half of the third inning to close the gap to 12-3 heading into the fourth.

IWU maintained a 20-4 lead after six innings of play and ended up winning by a final score of 23-4.

Ping, Ranneklev, and senior Jack Schneider (Naperville, Ill.-Benet Academy) paced the offensive with a combined 9-for-13 effort that included nine runs driven in.

Freshman Morgan McFarlane (Chicago, Ill.-St Laurence) earned his first collegiate win (1-1) on the bump, tossing five innings while allowing just four hits and three runs.

The Green and White are once again scheduled to embark on its home portion of the 2022 season with a twin bill against College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin foe, Carthage College Saturday, April 2. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. at Horenberger Field and will be part of Titan athletics' support for St. Jude.
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