BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Freshman Matt Hudik (Frankfort, Ill.–Lincoln-Way East) played the hero in walk-off fashion as the Illinois Wesleyan University baseball team pulled off a thrilling 14-13 victory in extra innings over College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin foe Wheaton College on Friday, April 18. With the win, the Titans improved to 17-12 overall and 9-4 in conference play, while the Thunder dropped to 12-18 and 5-7 in the CCIW.

Junior Will Davidsmeier (Virginia, Ill.–Beardstown) got the start on the mound for IWU, tossing six innings. Out of the bullpen, the Titans utilized seniors Brady Hartman (Milan, Ill.–Sherrard) and Luke Schwab (Downers Grove, Ill.–Downers Grove South), junior Nathan Waterman (Downers Grove, Ill.–Downers Grove South), and freshman Brennan Tomhave (Pittsfield, Ill.–Pittsfield). Schwab picked up the win, improving to 1-0, after closing out the game with 1.1 innings of work.

Senior standouts Cade Tomhave (Pittsfield, Ill.–Pittsfield) and Justin Gadomski (Schaumburg, Ill.–Schaumburg) led the offensive charge, going 3-for-5 and 3-for-6, respectively. Both racked up three RBIs and crossed the plate twice in the win.

IWU tallied 14 runs on 13 hits with one error, while Wheaton posted 13 hits and committed four costly errors.

The Thunder struck first, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first and adding three more in the second to build a 5-0 cushion.

The Titans answered in the bottom of the second with a big inning of their own. Sophomore John Philip Ferraro (Oak Park, Ill.–Oak Park River Forest) and senior Tristan Figus (Arlington Heights, Ill.–Buffalo Grove) each singled to spark the rally. A walk from junior Jack Flagg (River Forest, Ill.–Oak Park River Forest) loaded the bases, before senior Tyler Woltman (Wheaton, Ill.–Wheaton North) drove in Ferraro with a sacrifice fly to get IWU on the board. Hudik then drew a walk to load the bases again, setting the stage for Gadomski, who delivered a clutch, bases-clearing double down the left field line to pull the Titans within one, 5-4. C. Tomhave followed with a single to center, bringing in Gadomski to tie the game at 5-5.

After shutting down Wheaton in the third, IWU took its first lead in the bottom half. Junior Gage Wolfe (Bloomington, Ill.–Bloomington) walked and stole second, and ultimately scored when Flagg reached on a fielding error to make it 6-5 Titans.

The Green and White kept their foot on the gas in the fourth. Gadomski led off with a triple and scored on another RBI single from C. Tomhave. Ferraro was hit by a pitch, and Figus followed with a single to score C. Tomhave and extend the lead to 8-5. After a wild pitch and another walk for Wolfe, Flagg delivered again, singling to left field to plate both Ferraro and Figus for a 10-5 lead.

Wolfe added another run in the sixth to make it 11-5, but Wheaton responded with three runs in the seventh to close the gap, 11-8.

In the bottom of the eighth, C. Tomhave launched a towering solo home run over the right field fence, estimated at 348 feet, pushing the lead to 12-8.

The Thunder wouldn't go quietly, rallying for four runs in the top of the ninth to tie the game at 12-12, forcing extras after the Titans were unable to capitalize in the bottom half.

Wheaton struck first in the top of the 10th, reclaiming the lead at 13-12, but the Titans weren't done. Senior Casey Swanson (Minooka, Ill.–Minooka) came off the bench and roped a clutch hit down the right field line, scoring Wolfe to knot the game at 13-13. Freshman Derek Ittner (Bloomingdale, Ill.–Lake Park) pinch ran for Swanson and raced home moments later when Hudik laced a walk-off single into left center, capping off the dramatic win, 14-13.

The Titans now look ahead to a doubleheader rematch at Wheaton College on Saturday, April 19. First pitch of game one is set for 1 p.m. at Lee Pfund Stadium in Wheaton, Ill.