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J. Gurgone hitting 3.23.25
ASHTIN ELDER PHOTO
7
Illinois Wesleyan IWU 7-10
12
Winner North Park NPU 6-12
Illinois Wesleyan IWU
7-10
7
Final
12
North Park NPU
6-12
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Illinois Wesleyan IWU 1 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 1 7 13 3
North Park NPU 1 1 2 1 0 0 3 4 X 12 14 0

W: Ravitz (1-0) L: Shamhart, Cole (0-2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Baseball Stumbles at North Park

Gurgone ties program record for most home runs in a game

CHICAGO - The Illinois Wesleyan University baseball team traveled to College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin rival North Park University on Saturday, March 29, falling 12-7. The loss drops IWU to a 7-10 overall record and 0-2 in conference play, while North Park improves to 6-12 on the season and 2-0 in league action.

Junior Will Davidsmeier (Virgina, Ill.-Beardstown) started the game on the mound, pitching for five innings and striking out three. Fellow junior Cole Shamhart (Oak Park, Ill.-Oak Park River Forest) came in for relief duties, pitching the final three innings. Shamhart struck out six, but allowed seven runs on three hits and two walks to get tagged with the loss.

Senior Jimmy Gurgone (Mokena, Ill.-St. Laurence) led the offense for the visitors, as he went 3-for-5 at the plate, and notched his first collegiate home run. All three of his hits resulted in home runs, as he tied the program record for most four-baggers in a game. The last Titan to belt three long balls in the same game was Garrett Shea at Carroll, April 6, 2019. To go along with his home runs, the Mokena, Ill. native finished with five RBIs. Seniors Tristan Figus (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Buffalo Grove), Cade Tomhave (Pittsfield, Ill.-Pittsfield), and Tyler Woltman (Wheaton, Ill.-Wheaton North) all finished with two hits. 

The game began with an early spark from the Titans as Tomhave launched a home run over the centerfield fence in the top of the first, marking his second long ball of the season. However, North Park responded quickly, tying the game 1-1 in the bottom of the inning.

In the top of the second, sophomore John Philip Ferraro (Oak Park, Ill.-Oak Park River Forest) led off with a double to left field, followed by a single from junior Gage Wolfe (Bloomington, Ill.-Bloomington). A walk issued to freshman Matt Hudik (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way East) loaded the bases, setting the stage for Figus. Figus drove in Ferraro with a single to give IWU a 2-1 lead.

North Park once again had an answer, knotting the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the second. The Titans regained the advantage in the third with a solo home run from Gurgone, sending the ball deep to right field for a 3-2 lead. It marks the first long ball of Gurgone's career. However, the Vikings quickly responded again, taking their first lead of the day, 4-3, after scoring two.

IWU was held scoreless in the fifth inning, while North Park extended its lead to 5-3 with another run in the bottom half. The next two innings were scoreless, but the Green and White rallied in the seventh. With Tomhave and senior Justin Gadomski (Schaumburg, Ill.-Schaumburg) on first and third, respectively, Gurgone belted his second home run of the game, putting Illinois Wesleyan back in front, 6-5.

North Park responded with a three-run rally in the bottom of the seventh, pushing the score to 8-6 in favor of the Vikings. Gurgone's third home run of the game in the top of the ninth brought the Titans closer, but North Park closed out the game with a 12-7 victory.

The Vikings ultimately secured the win, improving to 2-0 in conference play, while IWU looks to bounce back as the season progresses.

Illinois Wesleyan will continue its conference play against Carroll University, Tuesday, April 1. First pitch is at 6 p.m. in Bloomington, Ill. at Jack Horenberger Field.
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