McLean County Times

The Illinois Wesleyan University baseball team concluded their three-game series against Wabash College with an 8-5 defeat on Sunday, March 23. This loss leaves the Titans with a season record of 7-8, while the Little Giants improved to 9-6.

Junior pitcher Jake Pullam started for Illinois Wesleyan and pitched five innings, achieving six strikeouts and allowing three walks. The Titan bullpen included senior Luke Schwab, junior Jonathan Ciullo, sophomore Caleb Martinez, and freshman Michael Gurgone. Schwab managed two strikeouts in his 2.2 innings of play, while Ciullo was recorded as the pitcher of record.

On the offensive side, junior Jack Flagg contributed significantly by going 3-for-4 and scoring twice. Senior Cade Tomhave went 2-for-3, drove in two runs, and scored once.

Both teams achieved ten hits each during the game. Illinois Wesleyan tallied a double and a home run alongside Wabash's two extra-base hits. Each team also earned seven free passes.

Wabash took an early lead with one run in the second inning and added two more in the third for a 3-0 advantage. However, Illinois Wesleyan responded in the bottom of the third with three runs to tie the game at 3-3. A single by Flagg followed by a sacrifice bunt from freshman Matt Hudik set up senior Justin Gadomski's single that brought Flagg home. Tomhave then hit a home run to even the score.

A rain and hail delay occurred before play resumed in the fifth inning when Wabash reclaimed their lead with another run. In the seventh inning, Flagg reached base again and was driven home by senior Tristan Figus to tie it at 4-4. Another single from Gadomski advanced Figus to second before Tomhave loaded the bases; a walk issued to senior Jimmy Gurgone put IWU ahead briefly at 5-4.

In their final opportunity at bat, Wabash capitalized on walks and a hit-by-pitch situation to secure a lead of 6-5 before adding two more runs with a single for an eventual scoreline of 8-5.

Despite efforts from Swanson who doubled and Woltman who walked to bring potential tying runs onto base in IWU’s last turn at bat, they could not close the gap further after being thwarted by a lineout.

Looking ahead, Illinois Wesleyan will commence their College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin campaign against North Park University on Thursday, March 27 at Jack Horenberger Field in Bloomington at 4 p.m.