Baseball Heads to Decatur for Double Dip Against Big Blue

Games set for 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

4/22/2022 4:30:00 PM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - With only eight College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin contests remaining, the Illinois Wesleyan University baseball team will travel to Decatur, Ill. for a key two-game set against Millikin University, Saturday, April 23 at the Workman Family Baseball Field. First pitch of the twin bill is scheduled for 1 p.m. Coming into play this weekend, the Green and White own an overall record of 15-12 (6-4 CCIW). The Big Blue, winners of four-in-a-row, sit at 19-12 (5-6 CCIW).

The Titans most recently played yesterday, April 21, against CCIW foe, Wheaton College. The Thunder raced out to a 10-0 cushion after the sixth inning. However, the IWU offense sprung for seven runs in the ninth, but the comeback attempt fell short as WC escaped with the 12-10 victory.

Millikin, who battled Wheaton right after IWU in the second leg of WC's doubleheader, earned a crucial 9-1 victory over the Thunder.

Saturday's meeting will mark the 106th all-time game between these two rivals that dates back to the 1989 season. The Green and White currently enjoys a 76-29 all-time series advantage. However, as of late, the Blue Blue has seen success by winning the previous five contests. The Titans' last victory over Millikin came on May 11, 2019 in the CCIW tournament.

For the year, as of April 21, senior Dominic DiLello (Springfield, Ill.-Sacred Heart Griffin) sits at fifth in all of NCAA Division III with his 0.488 batting average. Among qualified hitters, DiLello leads the team with a 1.277 OPS, 42 hits, .686 slugging percentage, and 12 hit by pitches. He is also tied for first with two triples.

Senior Evan Ranneklev (Naperville, Ill.-Neuqua Valley) is enjoying a solid senior season with a .390 batting average. The Naperville, Ill. native tops the team as he has accumulated 100 plate appearances, 34 runs, and 60 total bases.

Junior Jalen Ping (Chatham, Ill.-Glenwood) is tied for 16th in Division III as he has produced a team leading 14 two-baggers to go along with a .367 batting average. Ping is second on the team with 29 RBI and 98 plate appearances.

On the bump, senior Jacob Duffy (Pontiac, Ill.-Pontiac) and junior Scott Monocchio (Glen Ellyn, Ill.-Glenbard West) have combined to toss 77 innings of work, 38 and 39 innings, respectively.

Live stats for both ends of the double header can be found by clicking here. A live video for game one can be accessed here, while a live video for game two can be viewed here.

Print Friendly Version