McLean County Times

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) baseball team clinched their series against Augustana College with an 11-8 win on Sunday, April 13. After splitting a doubleheader on Saturday, the Titans improved their record to 15-12 overall and 7-4 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW), while the Vikings fell to 14-12 and 4-5 in league play.

Cole Shamhart, a junior from Oak Park, Illinois, started as the pitcher for the Titans, managing three strikeouts over 3.1 innings. The relief pitchers, comprised of juniors Luke Costello and Jake Pullam, and freshman Cole Benson, helped maintain the team's lead. Benson was credited with the win and Pullam with the save.

IWU's offense was strong, with the team achieving 13 hits and a collective OPS of .982. Jack Flagg, a junior, went 2-for-4, hitting his third home run of the season. Seniors Cade Tomhave and Justin Gadomski performed well at the plate, each with three hits and two runs.

The Vikings began the game with a three-run lead in the first inning. However, IWU quickly responded with Gadomski doubling and Tomhave hitting a single to bring in runs. Sophomore John Philip Ferraro also contributed with a double, narrowing the deficit to 3-2.

Augustana extended their lead to 4-2 in the second, but Flagg's 371-foot home run narrowed the gap. By the third inning, Gadomski and Tomhave made key plays to tie the game. A sacrifice fly soon gave IWU a 5-4 lead.

The fourth and fifth innings saw the Vikings regain and extend their lead to 8-5, but IWU responded in the bottom of the fifth. Senior Jimmy Gurgone and freshman Ben Ford initiated a rally with a walk and single respectively. Flagg's single drove in two runs, while Tyler Woltman and Matt Hudik further loaded the bases. Gadomski and Tomhave then added to the score, leading to an 11-8 advantage.

To maintain their lead, the Titans held off Augustana for the remainder of the game, securing both the win and series victory. Looking ahead, IWU will face North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, on Wednesday, April 26, with the first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m. at Zimmerman Stadium.