KENOSHA, Wis. – The Illinois Wesleyan University baseball team clinched the double-digit College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin win over Carthage College, Sunday, April 21 as the Titans totaled fifteen hits in the 13-3 victory. IWU climbs to 21-9 and 10-3 in the CCIW to tie for first alongside North Park in conference standings. Carthage falls to 20-9 and 8-5 in CCIW action.

Junior Justin Gadomski (Schaumburg, Ill.-Schaumburg) had four hits in the win while juniors Tyler Woltman (Wheaton, Ill.-Wheaton North) and Jimmy Gurgone (Mokena, Ill.-St. Laurence) were good for three hits apiece.  Sophomore Jack Flagg (River Forest, Ill.-Oak Park River Forest) had a team-high four RBIs with Gadomski just behind with three. Junior Dalen Banks (Springfield, Ill.-Springfield) pitched seven innings to be credited with the win and move to a 4-2 pitching record. He recorded four strikeouts with six hits allowed. 

The Green and White plated three runs in its first trip to the plate to open up a 3-0 lead after Gadomski set the table from Woltman's double to put two aboard. After a passed ball scored Gadomski, Flagg kept the Firebird defense on its toes, getting walked before deciding to steal second and forcing a throwing error by the catcher that brought Woltman across the plate for a 2-0 advantage. Freshman John Phillip Ferraro (Oak Park, Ill.-Oak Park River Forest) notched a single that scored Flagg to lead 3-0 before the half-inning ended. 

Carthage got a run back in the bottom half of the first before tying the game following a two-run third. 

Following an uneventful fourth inning, Gurgone singled to the shortstop before Louis Perona (Chicago, Ill.-Lane Tech) was walked, putting runners on first and second. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch with Gadomski up to bat. Despite grounding out to short, Gadomski notched an RBI in Gurgone to give IWU the 4-3 edge. 

The sixth inning saw a quick 1-2-3 at bat for IWU before Gurgone, Gadomski, and senior Evan Hutson (Normal, Ill.-Normal West) connected on the double play to end the inning before Carthage could level the score. 

Perona singled to right field to open the seventh inning, followed by a Gadomski two-bagger and a walk for Woltman to have bases loaded with Flagg up to bat. Flagg picked up the RBI on a ground out that forced a throwing error by the Firebirds second baseman that saw Perona safely reach home for the 5-3 lead. 

Illinois Wesleyan took advantage of a struggling Firebird defense in the top of the eighth. Junior Tristan Figus (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Buffalo Grove) ledoff the inning reaching on an error by Carthage's third baseman before senior Dino Biggers (Naperville, Ill.-Naperville Central) was walked to put runners on first and second. Senior Jacob Cyrus (Glen Ellyn, Ill.-Glenbard South) lined out to the pitcher and in an attempt to turn-two, a throwing error from the mound gave Figus the go-ahead to take third base. With two runners in scoring position, Gurgone ripped a double to left field to score both Figus and Biggers. A Carthage pitching change did little to stop Gadomski from singling to left field, bringing Gurgone home for an 8-3 lead in favor of the Titans.

After a six-pitch eighth by sophomore Will Davidsmeier (Virginia, Ill.-Beardstown), the Titans continued to bolster a five-run ninth off five hits for what would eventually be a 13-3 final score. 

IWU will take a day off from competition before Carthage College makes the trip to Horenberger Field Tuesday, April 23 as the Titans host the second part of a two-game series.