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Baseball 2023 Seniors: Jalen Ping, Ethan Burgh, Thomas Bleker, Blake Niebrugge
6
Wheaton WHEATON 14-16, 6-7 CCIW
20
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU 12-18, 5-6 CCIW
Wheaton WHEATON
14-16, 6-7 CCIW
6
Final
20
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
12-18, 5-6 CCIW
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Wheaton WHEATON 0 1 0 1 0 0 4 6 9 0
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 4 0 3 1 10 2 X 20 20 2

W: Banks, Dalen (6-1) L: Dyer, Brendan (0-5)

7
Wheaton WHEATON 14-17, 6-8 CCIW
8
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU 13-18, 6-6 CCIW
Wheaton WHEATON
14-17, 6-8 CCIW
7
Final
8
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
13-18, 6-6 CCIW
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Wheaton WHEATON 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 7 9 0
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 0 1 0 1 0 0 3 1 2 8 17 1

W: Cyrus, Jacob (2-4) L: Smith, Sean (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Baseball Sweeps Wheaton on Senior Day

Gurgone earned a walk-off single in game two

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Behind a 20-run offensive explosion in game one and a come from behind, walk-off win in the night cap, the Illinois Wesleyan University baseball team swept College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin foe, Wheaton College, Friday, April 21 at Horenberger Field. After tallying 37-hits in the two games, IWU's record upped to 14-18 (6-6 CCIW). The Thunder's record slipped to 14-17 (6-8 CCIW) after the two defeats.

Prior to game one, the Illinois Wesleyan baseball program recognized seniors Jalen Ping (Chatham, Ill.-Glenwood), Thomas Bleker (Lombard, Ill.-Glenbard West), Ethan Burgh (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Prospect), and Blake Niebrugge (Watson, Ill.-Effingham St. Anthony) for their dedication to IWU baseball.

Game One: Illinois Wesleyan 20, Wheaton 6
After a four-pitch by Ping to lead off the game, who advanced to second on a junior Louis Perona (Chicago, Ill.-Lane Tech) ground out, recorded the game's first run via sophomore Tristan Figus' (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Buffalo Grove) single that sneaked past the diving second baseman to generate the 1-0 lead. Later in the frame, on a 2-0 pitch, Burgh deposited a three-run round-tripper, into the trees in left, to open up a quick, 4-0, advantage after the first inning.

The Thunder cracked the scoreboard in the top of the second on a solo homerun to dead center to cut the deficit to 4-1.

IWU manufactured bases loaded, with none out, to warrant a Wheaton pitching change in the bottom of the third. Figus earned a walk, junior Jacob Cyrus (Glen Ellyn, Ill.-Glenbard South) roped a single, and Burgh walked to generate the chance. Taking full advantage, sophomore Casey Swanson (Minooka, Ill.-Minooka) whacked a single down the first base line, which brought in a pair to extend the lead to 6-1. In the same inning, sophomore Jimmy Gurgone (Mokena, Ill.-St. Laurence) tagged a sacrifice fly to push IWU's advantage to 7-1 after three frames.

WC scored an unearned run in the top of the fourth as IWU's lead stood at 7-2.

Continuing his scorching week, Figus notched his second RBI of the contest with a double down the left field line, as Perona crossed the plate, to expand the cushion to 8-2 as the game progressed to the fifth.

IWU sprung for 10 runs, on 10 hits, in the bottom of the fifth to race out to the 18-2 advantage. 

The Green and White set a new season-high with 20 runs by scoring a pair in the sixth to enjoy the 20-2 lead.

The Titans finished off the Thunder for the 20-6, seven-inning, victory.

IWU outhit WC by a final tally of 20-9. Each Titan starter recorded at least one in the contest as Figus, Cyrus, and Gurgone each recorded three hits. Burgh led the offensive barrage with five driven in, while Figus, Swanson, and Gurgone each recorded three RBI.

Sophomore Dalen Banks (Springfield, Ill.-Springfield) toed the rubber for his ninth start on the bump for the Green and White. Banks tossed his second complete-game of the year, while upping his record to 6-1. The sophomore struck out seven and allowed six runs, five which were earned.

Game Two: Illinois Wesleyan 8, Wheaton 7 
The Thunder took the lead in the top of the second with a three-run homer to right center to stake the 3-0 lead.

With two down in the bottom of the second, Bleker torched a triple to right center. Junior Evan Hutson (Normal, Ill.-Normal West) found a gap in the 5-6 hole to produce IWU's first run of the night cap to cut the deficit to 3-1.

Much like the second, Hutson recorded his second, two-out, two-strike, base knock in the fourth. Hutson roped a single down the left field line, as, once again, Bleker came around to score as the Thunder's advantage was cut to 3-2.

Wheaton rattled off three runs in the top of the seventh to stake the 6-2 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, IWU's offense dug into their deficit. After a walk and a single, Perona beat out an infield single, which allowed sophomore Cade Tomhave (Pittsfield, Ill.-Pittsfield) to score. After Figus laid down a perfectly placed bunt, the Titans loaded the bases with no one out. With Wheaton induced an infield fly and a lineout, Bleker barreled up a huge two RBI, base knock to get the Green and White within one, 6-5.

The Thunder recorded a key insurance run in the top of the eighth to manufacture the 7-5 cushion.

Gurgone tagged a leadoff triple to right center to give IWU a golden opportunity. The first pitch of the next batter evaded the catcher, which gave Gurgone just enough time to read the pitch and scamper home on the wild pitch. After the run, the Titans trailed, 7-6.

As IWU has been lurking for most of the game, Bleker pushed the game-tying run across the plate in bottom of the ninth on a bunt single as Cyrus, who doubled to lead off the inning, raced home to knot the score at 7-7. After Hutson was intentionally walked, to generate first and second, with one out, Gurgone roped a single to center and Bleker, who was motoring around third, dove in ahead of the tag to secure the dramatic, come from behind, 8-7 victory.

On the offensive side, the Green and White outhit the Thunder by a final tally of 17-9. Bleker led the offense with his 4-for-5 nightcap, as Perona and Hutson both notched three hit games. Bleker also led IWU with his three RBI.

IWU used six pitchers to cover the nine innings. Cyrus, who hurdled the ninth, earned the victory (2-4).

The Titans will make the trek to Beloit, Wis. for a non-conference contest to face Beloit College, Sunday, April 23. First pitch inside of the Ballpark at Strong Stadium is scheduled for 12 p.m.

 
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