Baseball Registers First Conference Win by Extinguishing Firebirds

Offense scored seven runs in three different innings

4/3/2022 3:58:00 PM

Box Score

KENOSHA, Wis. - The Illinois Wesleyan University baseball team kicked off College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin action, Sunday, April 3 by taking on Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis. Since this game was originally scheduled to be played in Bloomington, IWU was considered the "home" team in this contest. The Titans scored 14 runs in two innings to take down Carthage by a final score of 23-1, in seven innings. The Green and Whites' record improved to 10-8 (1-0 CCIW), while CC's record slipped to 5-13 (0-1 CCIW) with this setback.

A two out infield single from the Firebirds got Carthage on the board in the top of the first inning to welcome a quick, 1-0, lead. However, a diving defensive stop by second baseman senior Cole Greer (Springfield, Ill.-Pleasant Plains) prevented further damage that was followed by a junior Scott Monocchio (Glen Ellyn, Ill.-Glenbard West) strikeout to end the frame.

In the bottom half of the first, IWU got things rolling thanks to back-to-back walks and a hit by pitch to load the bases with no one out. Taking advantage of the opportunity, junior Jalen Ping (Chatham, Ill.-Glenwood) tied the game at one apiece on a sacrifice fly to allow Greer to scamper home. The Titans stranded the bases loaded with one out, as the score stood at 1-1 after one inning of play.

The Green and White generated their first lead of the ballgame in the second inning by exploding for seven runs on four hits. Senior Evan Ranneklev (Naperville, Ill.-Neuqua Valley), drove in sophomore Louis Perona (Chicago, Ill.-Lane Tech) and freshman Brady Hartman (Milan, Ill.-Sherrard) to open up a 3-1 cushion. Senior Dominic DiLello (Springfield, Ill.-Sacred Heart Griffin) followed suit by notching a single of his own to bring home Greer to push the lead to 4-1. Still with no one out, senior Jared Mutter (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way East) found a hole in the right side of the Firebird defense, earning a pair of RBI, as DiLello and Ranneklev crossed the plate as the Titans owned a 6-1 advantage. In his second plate appearance of the inning, Perona laced a double just inside of the third base bag, earning two RBI as the lead stretched to 8-1.

The Titans tacked on 15 more runs in the third through fifth innings to take a commanding 23-1 lead.

The Green and White went on to win the contest by a final score of 23-1.

Monocchio got the nod on the bump for the Titans, improving his staff-best record to 3-0. The southpaw tossed six innings, allowing one run on just four hits.

Greer, Ranneklev, DiLello, Ping, and Perona each registered at least a pair of base hits. Ping tied his season-high with four runs batted in.

The Green and White will continue CCIW play against North Central College, Tuesday, April 5. First pitch is currently scheduled for 4 p.m. at Horenberger Field in Bloomington.

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