McLean County Times

The Illinois Wesleyan University baseball team faced North Park University on Saturday, March 29, in a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin matchup, resulting in a 12-7 defeat. This outcome places IWU at a 7-10 overall record and 0-2 in conference play, whereas North Park improves to 6-12 for the season and 2-0 in conference games.

Junior Will Davidsmeier from Virginia, Illinois began the game on the mound, pitching for five innings and achieving three strikeouts. His teammate, junior Cole Shamhart from Oak Park, Illinois took over for the final three innings, accruing six strikeouts but conceding seven runs on three hits and two walks, resulting in his taking the loss.

Senior Jimmy Gurgone from Mokena, Illinois, led IWU's offensive efforts, going 3-for-5 at the plate and hitting his first collegiate home run. Significantly, all three hits were home runs, tying a program record for most home runs in a single game—a feat last accomplished by Garrett Shea on April 6, 2019, against Carroll. Gurgone ended the game with five RBIs. Seniors Tristan Figus from Arlington Heights, Cade Tomhave from Pittsfield, and Tyler Woltman from Wheaton each added two hits to the game total.

The match opened energetically with Tomhave's home run over the centerfield fence in the first inning, although North Park quickly equalized at 1-1. The Titans regained a brief 2-1 lead in the second inning with a double by sophomore John Philip Ferraro of Oak Park, followed by a single from junior Gage Wolfe of Bloomington and a walk to freshman Matt Hudik from Frankfort, loading the bases. Figus then drove in Ferraro with a single. However, North Park quickly responded, tying again at 2-2, and took a 4-3 lead in the third inning after scoring two runs.

IWU cooled off after the fifth inning, being held scoreless while North Park edged further ahead to 5-3. Despite a quiet few innings, IWU rallied in the seventh; Gurgone hit a second home run, supported by runners Tomhave and senior Justin Gadomski of Schaumburg, bringing IWU marginally back to 6-5. Yet, North Park responded with a three-run rally in the bottom of the seventh, taking the score to 8-6, and ultimately managing to secure a victory at 12-7.

Illinois Wesleyan will attempt to bounce back as the conference continues. Their next game is against Carroll University on Tuesday, April 1, with a 6 p.m. start at Jack Horenberger Field in Bloomington, Illinois.