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Thomas Bleker Hitting Against Wabash on March 27, 2023
Carson Schaefer
12
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU 5-12, 1-0 CCIW
2
North Park NPU 6-14, 0-1 CCIW
Winner
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
5-12, 1-0 CCIW
12
Final
2
North Park NPU
6-14, 0-1 CCIW
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 3 0 0 5 2 0 2 12 14 0
North Park NPU 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 6 2

W: Banks, Dalen (4-0) L: Bartlett, Bobby (1-4)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Baseball Downs NPU Behind Balanced Offense

Will return to Bloomington for doubleheader tomorrow

CHICAGO - In the tough weather conditions, the Illinois Wesleyan University baseball team kicked off College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin action with a single, nine-inning, game at the unique Holmgren Athletic Complex on the campus of North Park University. Behind the balanced offensive attack, and complete game performance by sophomore Dalen Banks (Springfield, Ill.-Springfield), the Titans claimed the 12-2 victory to snap their five-game losing skid. With the win, IWU's record sits at 5-12 (1-0 CCIW), while NPU's record dipped to 6-14 (0-1 CCIW).

Just three batters into the game, IWU raced out to a 1-0 advantage. Senior Thomas Bleker (Lombard, Ill.-Glenbard West) was credited with a single to lead off the game. Later in the frame, Bleker advanced on a wild pitch to scoot into scoring position. Junior Louis Perona (Chicago, Ill.-Lane Tech) lifted the ball into the swirling wind for a double down the left field line. The base knock allowed Bleker to race home to generate the quick lead. With two down, and the Viking shortstop pinching the middle, sophomore Jimmy Gurgone (Mokena, Ill.-St. Laurence) reached on an infield single toward the 5-6 hole, as Perona crossed the plate. Junior Evan Hutson (Normal, Ill.-Normal West) delivered a sharp single to left to push the lead to 3-0, with senior Ethan Burgh (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Prospect) earning a run scored. The Titans recorded three runs, on four hits, after the first half inning of play.

Again with two outs, this time in the top of the fourth, the Green and White exploded for five runs to own an 8-0 advantage. Senior Jalen Ping (Chatham, Ill.-Glenwood) put a ball in play to the Viking third baseman. The throw across the diamond sailed, resulting in a pair of Titans scoring on the miscue to generate a 5-0 lead. Burgh, with runners on second and third, took an outside offering and drove the pitch down the right field line, good for a two RBI triple. Sophomore Cade Tomhave (Pittsfield, Ill.-Pittsfield) sent a pitch right back up the middle, allowing Burgh to trot home to extend the lead to 8-0. Tomhave's single resulted in NPU making a call to the bullpen to bring in a new hurler.

The Vikings cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single to cut the deficit to 8-1. Banks induced a key 6-4-3 double play to end the threat as the game progressed to the top of the fifth.

Sophomore Tristan Figus (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Buffalo Grove) earned his second hit of the afternoon, which drove in Hutson, who singled to lead off the fifth. With the wind causing havoc, Bleker took advantage by sending a triple down the right field line, as Figus jogged home to push IWU's cushion to 10-1.

NPU got one run back, on a pair of hits, in the bottom of the sixth. After six innings of play, the Titans owned the 10-2 cushion.

In the top of the seventh, Ping grounded out to the pitcher, which allowed Figus to cross the plate. With two outs, and a two strike count, Perona expanded the zone and found a barrel on an outside pitch for a single to left. The single pushed Bleker home as the lead expanded to 12-2.

Banks was able to shut the door, throwing his first-career complete game as IWU downed NPU by a final score of 12-2.

Banks, who threw all seven innings, allowed six hits, while striking out five. With the victory, Banks' record now sits at 4-0 on the year. All of the Springfield, Ill. native's six starts this season have been at least five innings, with four being at least six inning performances. 

The Titans outhit the Vikings by a final tally of 14-6. Bleker and Figus led the offense with 3-for-4 performances at the dish. Bleker recorded a career-high three runs scored, while Figus set a career-high with his three base knocks. Perona and Hutson both recorded 2-for-4 afternoon's. Eight Titans recorded at least one RBI in the game.

The Green and White will conclude the three-game series against NPU, tomorrow, with a home doubleheader at Horenberger Field. First pitch of the twin bill is set for 1 p.m.

 
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