Baseball Concludes 2024 Season

Titans post 23-16 record

5/8/2024 6:14:00 PM

Box Score CHICAGO - The Illinois Wesleyan University baseball team finished out its 2024 season in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin tournament Wednesday, May 8 against Carthage College. The Titans finish the season 23-16 while the Firebirds will move on to play North Park University Thursday, May 9 at noon.

IWU found itself in a hole early with a homerun from the Firebirds in the first at bat. The Titans let up another run in the second inning while staying scoreless themselves until the third.

Sophomore Jimmy Gurgone (Mokena, Ill.-St. Laurence) and senior Dino Biggers (Naperville, Ill.-Naperville Central) reached to give Illinois Wesleyan life. With a walk from senior Louis Perona (Chicago, Ill.-Lane Tech) and the bases now loaded, freshman John Philip Ferraro (Oak Park, Ill.-Oak Park River Forest) was walked to give IWU its first run of the game. On a wild pitch, Biggers ran in to tie the game at twos.

The Green and White could not build a scoring run as the Firebirds picked up two in the sixth and three in the seventh to bump their lead to 7-2.

IWU saw some life in the bottom of the eighth, starting with Perona doubling to right center. Ferraro was walked, before a wild pitch advanced Perona and pinch runner, senior Michael Passarelli (Chicago, Ill.-De La Salle). Sophomore Tommy Willard (Downers Grove, Ill.-Downers Grove South) notched a single – good for two RBIs to run in Perona and Passarelli ending the inning 7-4 in favor of Carthage.

No one scored for the remainder of the game leaving a final score of 7-4 in favor of Carthage.

The Titans were out-hit by the Firebirds 15-4 with IWU producing one error to CC's zero.

Senior Jacob Cyrus (Glen Ellyn, Ill.-Glenbard South) was hit with the loss to end his senior season with a 1-3 record.

Head coach Dennis Martel concludes his last season with the Titans after 39 years at the help and an astounding 914-616-3 career coaching record. Assistant Coach Michael Kellar, will step into the head coaching position for the 2025 season.

Kellar will return 33 players for next season. This ends the careers of seniors Biggers, Cyrus, Passarelli, Alex Smith (Normal, Ill.-Normal West), Aiden Smith (Marengo, Ill.-Marengo), Josh Ralston (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way Central), Luke Uhwat (Spring Grove, Ill.-Richmond-Burton) and Evan Hutson (Normal, Ill.-Normal West). Perona will continue his career as a graduate student playing baseball at the University of Cincinnati.

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