McLean County Times

Baseball Drops Spring Break Finale to Rhodes

The Illinois Wesleyan University baseball team concluded its five-game spring break slate, Saturday, March 18, by battling Rhodes College. A costly six-run sixth inning sparked the Lynx to a 16-8 victory over the Titans. With the setback, IWU's record now sits at 4-8, while Rhodes' record upped to 13-7 on the year.

In the bottom of the first, the Lynx cracked the scoreboard on a Titan throwing error to take the early 1-0 cushion.

With two down in the top of the second, junior Nick Pratscher (Plainfield, Ill.-Plainfield East) produced a line drive single, to bring in senior Ethan Burgh (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Prospect) to even the score at 1-1. Freshman Tommy Willard (Downers Grove, Ill.-Downers Grove South) lined a sharp single the other way to give IWU its first lead of the contest, 2-1, as sophomore Casey Swanson (Minooka, Ill.-Minooka) crossed the plate. A textbook relay from the Lynx defense denied the Titans another run as Pratscher was gunned down at the plate to end the threat. After one and a half, the Green and White led, 2-1.

However, Rhodes responde with a pair of runs on a double down the left field line to retake the slim, 3-2, advantage, heading into the third. 

In the top of the third, IWU led off the frame with five straight baserunners, highlighted by three-straight singles by sophomore Tristian Figus (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Buffalo Grove), senior Jalen Ping (Chatham, Ill.-Glenwood), and junior Louis Perona (Chicago, Ill.-Lane Tech) to set up bases loaded, with none out. Burgh, who earned a five pitch walk, brought in Figus to knot the score at 3-3. A line drive single to center off the barrel of Swanson allowed Ping to scamper home as IWU manufactured the 4-3 lead that caused the Lynx to make a pitching change. The change on the mound prevented further damage as the score stood at 4-3, in favor of IWU.

The early back-and-forth action ensued as the Lynx tallied one run in the bottom of the third to push the score to 4-4. Rhodes produced 11 runs between the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to extend their lead to 15-4.

The Green and White produced three runs in the seventh to cut the deficit to 15-7.

Entering the game as a defensive replacement, senior Blake Niebrugge (Watson, Ill.-Effingham St. Anthony) notched his first-career collegiate home run as he sent a ball over the right field wall. However, the comeback was not enough as the Lynx were able to claim the 16-8 victory over the Titans.

Rhodes tallied 19 hits, compared to IWU's 14. Swanson, Willard, Gurgone, Ping, and Pratscher each recorded a pair of hits at the dish, while Burgh topped the team with two RBI.

On the mound, the Green and White used six different pitchers to cover the eight innings.

The Titans will make the 451-mile trek back to Bloomington for the program's 2023 home opener against Wabash College, Saturday, March 25 for a double-dip. First pitch of the twinbill is slated for 12 p.m., with game two starting approximately a half hour after the conclusion of game one. 

Original source can be found here