Kodiak Creative

Titans Fall in Season Opener

Baseball returns tomorrow to face UW-Platteville

2/23/2024 5:20:00 PM

By: kcarlson

Box Score ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Illinois Wesleyan University baseball team kicked off its 2024 campaign against the Griffins of Fontbonne University Friday, Feb. 23.

The Titans started off hot in the top of the first inning with senior Louis Perona (Chicago, Ill.-Lane Tech) ripping a double to left field to put himself on base first. Junior Justin Gadomski (Shaumburg, Ill.-Shaumburg) got to first base on an error causing Perona to score the first run of the game.

The rest of the first and through the third saw the Griffins put up five runs to bring the score 5-1. Fifth-year Aiden Smith (Maregno, Ill.-Marengo) came in and let no one on base for the duration of the fourth and fifth.

Sophomore Jimmy Gurgone (Mokena, Ill.-St. Laurence) had a stellar hit to left field for a ground-rule double. Sophomore Cade Tomhave (Pittsfield, Ill.-Pittsfield) singled to right, easily bringing Gurgone in, bringing the score to 5-2.

In the top of the seventh, senior Tristan Figus (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Buffalo Grove) doubled to center field putting himself in great position to score. Hitting straight back into the same spot, junior Tyler Woltman (Wheaton, Ill.-Wheaton North) rounded second, bringing in Figus to chip away at the score, 5-3.

With an error thrown to first at the top of the eighth, Perona and junior Sebastian Edenhofer (Elmhurst, Ill.-York Community) ran home to tie the game, 5-5. IWU gave up one run in the bottom of the ninth to finish out the game at 6-5.

Illinois Wesleyan recorded 11 hits, while Fontbonne narrowly edged out IWU with 12. The Titans held an advantage in errors committed, with two, compared to three for the Griffins. Perona recorded a team-high of three hits with Gurgone not far behind with two.

The Green and White will remain in St. Louis to conclude the program's three-game weekend slate. IWU will compete tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 24, with a neutral site game against UW-Platteville at 12 p.m. at Shaw Park. On Sunday, Feb. 25, the Titans will travel to O'Fallon, Ill. to play its second neutral site game against Central College (Iowa). First pitch is set for 12 p.m.

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