McLean County Times

Offense Explodes for Nine Run Fourth as Baseball Runs Past Ripon

 The Illinois Wesleyan University baseball team resumed play in the Volunteer State by taking on Ripon College, Sunday, March 12 at the USA Complex in Millington, Tenn. IWU welcomed a nine hit, nine run fourth inning to cruise past the Red Hawks by a final tally of 11-1. With the Green and White's second victory in as many days, their record now sits at 3-6. With the setback, Ripon's record dipped to 1-5.

In the first inning, picking up where he left off yesterday, senior Jalen Ping (Chatham, Ill.-Glenwood) laced a triple into the right center gap to set up the Titans early. With a 2-2 count, junior Louis Perona (Chicago, Ill.-Lane Tech) found an outside offering and sent the left fielder back several steps, good for a sacrifice fly as Ping crossed the plate. After the opening inning of action, the Titans took the early 1-0 lead.

In the top of the second, freshman Jake Pullam (Palatine, Ill.-Palatine) worked out of a bases loaded, one out jam and was able to keep the Red Hawks off the board as the third out found the webbing of senior center fielder Thomas Bleker (Lombard, Ill.-Glenbard West) to retire the side and end the early threat.

With the Green and White looking to break the game open, the bottom half of the lineup wreaked havoc in the fourth by starting a nine hit, nine run inning. With runners on second and third, and none out, junior Evan Hutson (Normal, Ill.-Normal West) drove a pitch down the right field line, allowing senior Ethan Burgh (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Prospect) and junior Aaron Miranda (Davie, Fla.-Fort Lauderdale) to scamper home. With Hutson in scoring position, sophomore Jimmy Gurgone (Mokena, Ill.-St. Laurence) barreled up the Titans second three-bagger of the afternoon as Hutson crossed the plate to push the advantage to 4-1. Ping and Perona each tallied an RBI later in the inning that caused Ripon to go to the bullpen and the lead grew to 6-1.

However, the pitching change did little to halt the Titans offensive attack as sophomore Keenan Burgos (Park Ridge, Ill.-Niles Notre Dame) and Burgh both produced RBIs. IWU tacked on a pair of runs on a Red Hawk error later in the frame as the Green and White expanded the lead to 10-1, heading into the fifth. 

IWU pushed another run across in the sixth to expand the cushion to 11-1.

The Titan bullpen was able to shut the door as IWU picked up their second run-rule victory in as many days by a final score of 11-1.

Pullam earned his first-career start on the bump for the Titans. The freshman earned his first collegiate win by tossing four innings and allowing just three hits. Freshmen Luke Costello (Downers Grove, Ill.-Downers Grove South) and Josh Ralston (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way East) each produced scoreless outings out of the bullpen.

At the plate, IWU outhit the Red Hawks 15-3. Perona and Burgh each notched three hit afternoons, while Ping, Bleker, and Miranda each recorded two hits. Hutson and Perona both drove in three. 

The Green and White will enjoy a pair of off days before returning to action, Wednesday, March 15. IWU is set to take on the University of Chicago at 5 p.m. inside of the USA Complex's stadium field. 

Original source can be found here