McLean County Times

Baseball Upended by Maroons in Millington

After enjoying a couple of days off, the Illinois Wesleyan University baseball team resumed play with their spring break trip in Millington, Tenn., Wednesday, March 15, by battling with the University of Chicago. After striking first, Chicago tallied four runs in the sixth and eighth innings to put an end to IWU's two-game winning streak by a final score of 11-2. With the setback, the Green and White's record sits at 3-7, while the Maroons got back to .500 with a 4-4 clip.

With the Maroons threatening in the first with bases loaded and one out, junior hurler Jacob Cyrus (Glen Ellyn, Ill.-Glenbard South) worked out of the jam via a strikeout and a weak grounder to sophomore Jimmy Gurgone (Mokena, Ill.-St. Laurence) to end the threat.

In the bottom of the first, the Titans manufactured the first run of the ballgame. With two outs, junior Louis Perona (Chicago, Ill.-Lane Tech) earned a five-pitch walk, then stole second to put himself in scoring position for senior Thomas Bleker (Lombard, Ill.-Glenbard West). Bleker drove an offering right back up the middle as Perona raced home to give IWU the quick, 1-0, cushion.

Chicago took its first lead of the contest in the third, platting a pair of runs. Heading to the bottom of the third, the score stood at 2-1. UC tacked on four runs in the top of the sixth to and eighth to expand their cushion to 10-1.

In the bottom of the eighth, Bleker earned a bases-loaded base on balls to push Gurgone to the plate. With the game heading to the top of the ninth, the Maroons led by a score of 10-2.

The Maroons tagged IWU for another tally in the ninth to widen the advantage to 11-2.

Chicago out hit the Green and White, 11-8. Junior Evan Hutson (Normal, Ill.-Normal West) was the top offensive performer with his 2-for-4 evening at the dish.

Cyrus notched his second start of the season on the mound for the Titans. The junior tossed 2.1 innings on the bump, while striking out four, and was credited with the loss (0-2). Out of the bullpen, senior Will Jackson (Glenview, Ill.-Loyola Academy) logged 3.1 innings, while also striking out four.

The Green and White will take their final off day of the trip before returning to action with games on Friday and Saturday. IWU is set to take on Sewanee College, Friday, March 17, at the USA Complex, field 2, in Millington. First pitch with the Tigers is set for 2:30 p.m. 

Original source can be found here