Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content
Luke Costello in the stretch to throw a pitch
Audrey Peterson
1
Illinois Wesleyan IWU 16-20, 10-8 CCIW
4
Winner North Park NPU 22-15, 11-7 CCIW
Illinois Wesleyan IWU
16-20, 10-8 CCIW
1
Final
4
North Park NPU
22-15, 11-7 CCIW
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Illinois Wesleyan IWU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 5 3
North Park NPU 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 X 4 6 1

W: Jackson Nues (5-4) L: Costello, Luke (0-3)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Baseball Slips at North Park

Titans return home for final regular season games, May 2

CHICAGO - The Illinois Wesleyan University baseball team dropped the opening contest of its three-game College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin series against North Park University, 4-1, Friday, May 1, at Holmgren Athletic Complex. 

The Titans fall to 16-20 overall and 10-8 in CCIW play. Illinois Wesleyan is in need of a doubleheader sweep tomorrow against the Vikings to receive a first round bye in the league's tournament Thursday, May 7. North Park grows its record to 22-15 with an 11-7 conference stamp. 
 
Senior Luke Costello (Downers Grove, Ill.-Downers Grove South) made his second career start and first since 2023. Costello turned in a solid outing, lasting five innings. His four runs were all unearned as a two-out error extended the fifth inning for the Vikings. Freshman Anthony Fry (Libertyville, Ill.-Libertyville) relieved Costello in the sixth and continued the stellar work from the mound. He helped out the bullpen, going three innings with just three hits allowed. The duo combined for four strikeouts and two walks.

The IWU offense put 10 baserunners on, but could only scratch one across to score. The Green and White worked five walks, a hit by pitch, and four hits. Senior Gage Wolfe (Bloomington, Ill.-Bloomington) singled twice and drove in the lone run for the Titans with a single in the ninth. CCIW batting average leader, junior Jack Novak (Mokena, Ill.-Lincoln-Way Central), boarded the bases three times with a single and two walks.

Costello breezed through the first four innings, and into the fifth, until trouble arose with two outs. The frame looked promising for the senior and the Titans after two quick groundball outs to Wolfe. The lefty jumped ahead in the count to the following batter but the 0-2 pitch was left over the plate and rolled to the wall for a two-out double. Costello followed by inducing a groundball, but an errant throw to first broke the scoreless tie. The error came back to hurt the Titans, as a single put another runner aboard, and a deep fly to right resulted in a three-run home run to make it 4-0.

The Titans and Vikings will wrap up the regular season tomorrow, May 2, with a twin bill at Jack Horenberger Field in Bloomington. Illinois Wesleyan will celebrate its 11 seniors with senior day festivities beginning at 12:30 p.m., and first pitch will follow at 1 p.m.

 
Print Friendly Version