St. Louis, Mo. - The Illinois Wesleyan University baseball team took the three-game series against Washington University in St. Louis by winning the rubber game, March 6, in St. Louis. The Titans scored three in the eighth to stun the Bears, 6-5. With the win, the Green and White's record improved to 2-5, while WashU's record slipped to 1-5.

The Titans jumped out to an early 1-0 lead thanks to a WashU wild pitch that allowed senior Cole Greer (Springfield, Ill.-Pleasant Plains) to cross the plate in the first inning. In the third inning, a walk again brought home Greer to double the lead 2-0.

After the Bears cut into the deficit in the home half of the third to make the score 2-1, senior Evan Ranneklev (Naperville, Ill.-Neuqua Valley) grounded out to second base to drive in junior Thomas Bleker (Lombard, Ill.-Glenbard West) as IWU upped its advantage back to two, 3-1.

In the fifth and sixth innings, the Bears manufactured three runs to take their first lead of the game, 4-3, heading into the seventh.

The Titans scored three runs in the eighth thanks to a Bleker single, a Ranneklev fielder's choice, and a senior Jared Mutter (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way East) single to retake the lead, 6-4.

WashU attempted a comeback, but the IWU bullpen shut the door to complete the win and the series win, 6-5. 

Mutter notched a team-high five hits on the afternoon while Greer enjoyed a four-hit affair. In total, IWU accumulated 16 hits, compared to WashU's nine.

Freshman Nate Carlson (Palatine, Ill.-St. Viator) got the start on the bump, tossing five innings and did not factor in the decision. Carlson allowed six hits while striking out one.

Junior Scott Monocchio (Glen Ellyn, Ill.-Glenbard West) got the win in relief (1-0) throwing two innings. Sophomore Jacob Cyrus (Glen Ellyn, Ill.-Glenbard South) got the four-out save (1).

The Green and White will head south to Orlando, Fla. for the team's spring trip. IWU will play seven games over the week-long trip, March 12-19.