McLean County Times

A sacrifice fly secured a win for the Illinois Wesleyan University baseball team against Wheaton College on Tuesday night at Horenberger Field. The Titans improved their record to 16-9 overall and 6-3 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, while Wheaton's record fell to 7-15 overall and 1-6 in conference play.

The game began with a challenging start for the IWU pitching staff, allowing Wheaton to take a 4-0 lead before IWU had its first chance at bat. Senior Louis Perona was walked and then successfully stole both second and third base. Sophomore Tommy Willard brought him home with a grounder, earning an RBI. This initiated a series of singles from sophomore Jack Flagg, freshman John Philip Ferraro, and senior Jacob Cyrus, narrowing the score gap before the inning concluded.

IWU kept Wheaton scoreless in the second inning. Singles from Willard and Perona placed runners on first and third. A balk by Wheaton's pitcher allowed Willard to score, reducing the deficit to one run at 4-3. After junior Justin Gadomski was walked, junior Tyler Woltman executed a bunt that loaded the bases with two outs. Ferraro nearly cleared the fence with his hit but ended the inning without tying up the game.

In the third inning, junior Jimmy Gurgone doubled down the left line bringing Cyrus home to tie at four runs each. Willard added another RBI followed by Perona hitting a triple that brought Gurgone across home plate. Gadomski then singled allowing Perona to score, giving IWU a 7-4 lead over Wheaton.

This three-run lead held until the sixth inning when both teams scored again. Wheaton managed two more runs reducing IWU's lead to one. However, IWU responded with five additional runs in their half of the sixth inning.

Wheaton rallied again in the seventh scoring four runs closing in on IWU's lead making it 12-11. They scored once more in the ninth tying it at twelve each putting pressure on IWU during their final turn at bat.

Gadomski started off reaching base via single followed by advancing through wild pitches landing him on third base while Woltman got walked setting up Flagg’s decisive sacrifice fly securing IWU’s victory at 13-12.

Illinois Wesleyan University will next face Beloit College on Thursday evening back at Horenberger Field.