BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Illinois Wesleyan University baseball team dropped a hard-fought extra-inning battle to College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin opponent North Central College Tuesday evening, April 8. The Titans' (12-11, 5-3 CCIW) comeback fell short as IWU was edged by the Cardinals (12-13, 6-2 CCIW), 6-5.
Junior Jake Pullam (Palatine, Ill.-Palatine) started on the mound for IWU, throwing six strong innings. Pullam faced 26 batters, recording seven strikeouts, two of which were looking. Freshman Cole Benson (Oak Park, Ill.-Oak Park River Forest) entered in relief, pitching three innings and tallying four strikeouts. On the bump in extras was junior Luke Costello (Downers Grove, Ill.-Downers Grove South) and senior Luke Schwab (Downers Grove, Ill.-Downers Grove South). Schwab was the pitcher of record and was tagged with the loss.
At the plate, senior Justin Gadomski (Schaumburg, Ill.-Schaumburg) led the charge for the Titans, going 3-for-5 with three doubles and three RBIs. Senior Jimmy Gurgone (Mokena, Ill.-St. Laurence) added a solid 2-for-5 performance, driving in a run as well. As a team, the Titans totaled 10 hits, including an impressive six doubles.
The game remained scoreless until the top of the third, when North Central struck first with three runs to take the lead.
IWU responded in the bottom of the fourth, as Gadomski roped a double to right-center and advanced to third. He was driven in by a single from sophomore John Philip Ferraro (Oak Park, Ill.-Oak Park River Forest), cutting the Cardinals' lead to 3-1.
After three scoreless innings, the Titans got closer in the bottom of the seventh. Gadomski, continuing his strong performance, doubled again, this time to left-center. Gurgone followed with a clutch two-bagger of his own to score Gadomski, bringing the home team within one, 3-2.
In the bottom of the ninth, IWU managed to tie the gameand ultimately send it into extra innings. Freshman Ben Ford (Naperville, Ill.-Waubonsie Valley) drew a pinch-hit walk, advanced on a wild pitch, and then scored on a double by freshman Matt Hudik (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way East), tying the game at 3-3.
In the top of the 10th, North Central regained the lead, scoring three runs to take a 6-3 advantage.
The Titans did not go down without a fight in the bottom of the frame. For the third time in the game, Gadomski hit a double, this one to center field. Senior Cade Tomhave (Pittsfield, Ill.-Pittsfield) then doubled to the bottom of the fence to bring Gadomski home, cutting the deficit to 6-4. Sophomore Luca Morelli (Lincolnshire, Ill.-Adlai E. Stevenson) followed with a double down the right-field line, scoring Tomhave and making it 6-5. Unfortunately, IWU's comeback fell short there as the Titans could not produce another hit, allowing NCC to hold on for the one-run win.
The Titans will be back in action tomorrow, April 9, as they host Monmouth College at Jack Horenberger Field in Bloomington for a non-conference bout. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
