NAPERVILLE, Ill. – A late offensive surge propelled the Illinois Wesleyan University baseball team to a commanding 9-3 victory over College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin foe North Central College on Wednesday, April 16. With the win, the Titans improve to 16-12 overall and 8-4 in conference play, while the Cardinals drop to 14-16 and 7-5 in the CCIW.
Junior Jake Pullam (Palatine, Ill.-Palatine) was the starting pitcher on the mound, pitching for four innings and striking out three. Junior Luke Costello (Downers Grove, Ill.-Downers Grove South) was the pitcher of record and the only relief pitcher, pitching for five innings, and striking out five.
Junior Gage Wolfe (Bloomington, Ill.-Bloomington) went 3-for-5, adding one double, one RBI, and two runs. IWU totaled 12 hits in the game, and snagged seven RBIs.
The game remained a scoreless battle through the first four innings until North Central broke through with a three-run fifth to take a 3-0 lead.
IWU responded in unconventional fashion in the top of the sixth. Senior Tyler Woltman (Wheaton, Ill.-Wheaton) reached with a single to left, followed by a walk from freshman Matt Hudik (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way East). After Woltman advanced to third on a flyout, a failed pickoff attempt allowed him to sprint home and put the Titans on the board, cutting the deficit to 3-1.
Hudik moved around to third on a groundout and was then driven in by senior Jimmy Gurgone (Mokena, Ill.-St. Laurence), who lined a single into left field to make it a one-run game, 3-2.
The Titans' defense stood tall in the bottom of the sixth, retiring the side with a flyout, groundout, and a strikeout, while allowing just a bunt single.
Riding the momentum, IWU exploded for four runs in the top of the seventh to take control of the game. Wolfe led off with a single to right, followed by a bunt single from junior Jack Flagg (River Forest, Ill.-Oak Park River Forest). Woltman then reached on an error at third, allowing Wolfe to score and tie the game at 3-3.
Hudik followed with a base hit to left, scoring Flagg and giving IWU its first lead of the night, 4-3. A sacrifice fly brought in Woltman to extend the lead to 5-3. Hudik added another run after stealing second, advancing to third on a wild pitch, and scoring on a single to center by senior Cade Tomhave (Pittsfield, Ill.-Pittsfield). IWU took a 6-3 advantage into the eighth.
The Titans kept the bats hot in the eighth, adding three more insurance runs. Freshman Ben Ford (Naperville, Ill.-Waubonsie Valley) singled to left and was driven in by a double from Wolfe. Flagg then delivered an RBI single to score Wolfe, and later came home himself on a wild pitch to push the score to 9-3.
IWU now sets its sights on a CCIW series with Wheaton College, beginning Friday, April 18, with a single home game. The Titans will then travel to Wheaton for a Saturday doubleheader, April 19.
