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2022 Baseball Seniors
7
Winner North Park NPU 13-22, 6-10 CCIW
6
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 16-19, 7-9 CCIW
Winner
North Park NPU
13-22, 6-10 CCIW
7
Final
6
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
16-19, 7-9 CCIW
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 R H E
North Park NPU 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 1 7 10 0
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 6 12 3

W: Kalemba, Frank (2-0) L: Hill, Evan (1-2)

4
Winner North Park NPU 14-22, 7-10 CCIW
3
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 16-20, 7-10 CCIW
Winner
North Park NPU
14-22, 7-10 CCIW
4
Final
3
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
16-20, 7-10 CCIW
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
North Park NPU 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 4 7 2
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 3 5 0

W: Brueske, Brett (1-1) L: Lemenager, Jay (2-2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Senior Day Spoiled as Baseball Drops Two Ninth Inning Leads to North Park

Record sits at 16-20

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University baseball team took on North Park University in a key College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin doubleheader, Saturday, May 7 at Horenberger Field in Bloomington, Ill. The Green and White fell in a nail biter in game one with a final score of 7-6 in a game that ended in the 11th inning. IWU had NPU down to their final out in the night cap, but the Vikings prevailed to capture the 4-3 win. The Titans' record now sits at 16-20 (7-10 CCIW), while North Park's record improved to 14-22 (7-10 CCIW).

Prior to today's action, the baseball program honored its eight graduating seniors for their dedication to, accomplishments, and careers at Illinois Wesleyan. Seniors Evan Ranneklev (Naperville, Ill.-Neuqua Valley), Cole Greer (Springfield, Ill.-Pleasant Plains), Collin Elvers (Hamel, Ill.-Edwardsville), Jared Mutter (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way East), Jack Schneider (Naperville, Ill.-Benet Academy), Evan Hill (Gurnee, Ill.-Warren Township), Dominic DiLello (Springfield, Ill.-Sacred Heart Griffin), and Jacob Duffy (Pontiac, Ill.-Pontiac) were recognized. 

Game One: North Park 7, Illinois Wesleyan 6 (11 innings)

The Vikings sprung for three runs on five hits in the top of the first to open up a quick, 3-0, advantage. 

A pitchers duel ensued as the score remained 3-0, NPU, heading into the bottom of the fifth. On the bump, Duffy settled down after the first frame, not allowing a hit from the second through fifth innings.

The Vikings used a well-timed, two-out, rally to produce two runs on three hits to open up a 5-0 lead in the top of the sixth.

The Titans cracked the scoreboard for six runs on five hits in the bottom of the seventh as Mutter grounded out to second with the bases loaded to push across a run as DiLello crossed the plate to cut into the deficit as the score stood at 5-1. Coming off of the bench with two away, sophomore Thomas Bleker (Lombard, Ill.-Glenbard West) reached on an infield single, driving in sophomore Louis Perona (Chicago, Ill.-Lane Tech) to make the score 5-2, in favor of NPU. Greer earned a six pitch walk with the bases full of Titans, allowing freshman Brady Hartman (Milan, Ill.-Sherrard) to trot home as the score stood at 5-3. 

Ranneklev bounced a ball through the left side, driving home Elvers and Bleker as the Green and White tied the contest at five all. Ranneklev's base knock proved to be the dagger as the Vikings went to the bullpen. The pitching change did little to slow down the Titan attack as DiLello laced a single to left field, scoring Greer as IWU took its first lead of the ballgame, 6-5, as the game progressed to the eighth.

The Vikings scored one in the ninth to tie the game at 6-6.

Freshman Lukas Wenz (Naperville, Ill.-Neuqua Valley) pitched out of a two on, one-out jam in the top of the 10th to keep the game tied at six as the freshman induced a weak fly ball to center, followed by a ground ball to first as the game moved to the bottom of the 10th.

A two-out home run to left center made the score 7-6 in favor of NPU heading into the bottom of the 11th.

The round-tripper proved to be the difference as IWU hit into a game ending 6-3 double play as the Vikings went onto win game one by a final score of 7-6.

Duffy tossed eight frames, allowing nine hits, striking out six, and allowing five runs as did not factor into the decision. Hill suffered the loss (1-2) out of the bullpen.

IWU outhit NPU by a final tally of 12-10. DiLello assembled a 3-for-6 afternoon to pace the Titans. Ranneklev and Hartman each notched a pair of hits.

Game Two: North Park 4, Illinois Wesleyan 3

The Titans got the scoring started in the bottom of the third as freshman Cade Tomhave (Pittsfield, Ill.-Pittsfield) scored on the stolen base by DiLello as the Vikings threw down to second in an attempt to catch DiLello, then Tomhave came home on the throw down as the score stood at 1-0 after three.

NPU scored one run in the top of the fifth to knot the score at one all heading into the bottom half of the fifth.

After a leadoff double that shorthoped the left field fence off the bat of Tomhave, back-to-back sacrifice flies by Greer and Ranneklev manufactured the go ahead for IWU as the score stood at 2-1 in favor of the home team going into the sixth.

Bleker provided a key, two-out, insurance run as the sophomore reached on a single through the ride side, allowing Perona to scamper home to widen the Titan cushion, 3-1, after six innings of play.

NPU cut into the IWU lead after a triple scored a runner from first as the relay throw was just late. The score stood at 3-2, Titans, going into the bottom of the seventh.

Down to their final out, the Vikings capitalized on a pinch hit double that scored two as North Park silenced the crowd by taking the 4-3 lead in the ninth.

The Titans could not muster a comeback as NPU stunned IWU to steal the victory, 4-3.

Sophomore Jacob Cyrus (Glen Ellyn, Ill.-Glenbard South) got the nod on the bump and did not factor into the decision. The sophomore worked seven innings, scattering just four hits on two runs while racking up four strikeouts.

NPU outhit IWU by a final tally of 7-5. Five different Titans logged a hit in the night cap.

The Green and White will conclude their 2022 regular season slate, Monday, May 9 with a road contest against No. 11 North Central College in Naperville, Ill. First pitch of the single game is set for 12 p.m.
 
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