McLean County Times

In Kenosha, Wisconsin, the Illinois Wesleyan University baseball team claimed a crucial win over Carthage College in the first game of a three-game series. The Titans secured a 9-4 victory on Friday, May 2, bolstering their position in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Regular Season Championship. With this win, Illinois Wesleyan improved their overall record to 24-13 and 14-4 in the conference, while Carthage's record now stands at 28-10 and 14-4. The upcoming doubleheader on Saturday will determine the regular season champion and the host of the forthcoming CCIW Tournament, with Illinois Wesleyan needing one win to clinch the title.

Freshman Cole Benson from Oak Park, Illinois, started on the mound for IWU, contributing six innings and four strikeouts to earn the win. Senior Brady Hartman from Milan, Illinois, provided relief pitching in the last three innings, adding one strikeout.

On the offensive side, junior Jack Flagg from River Forest, Illinois, was notable with two hits in three at-bats, bringing in three RBIs and scoring once. Senior Jimmy Gurgone from Mokena, Illinois, went 2-for-5, also adding an RBI and a run. The Titans delivered nine hits without any errors during the game.

The game started strong for the Titans with senior Justin Gadomski from Schaumburg, Illinois, scoring the first run on a hit by Gurgone. An additional run was scored in the second inning when junior Gage Wolfe from Bloomington, Illinois, was hit by a pitch and later scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman Matt Hudik from Frankfort, Illinois.

The Titans took control in the third inning with four more runs. Senior Cade Tomhave from Pittsfield, Illinois, reached base on an error and later scored. Sophomore John Philip Ferraro from Oak Park, Illinois, and senior Tristan Figus from Arlington Heights, Illinois, added more runs. Flagg's two-run homer extended the lead to 6-0.

Carthage responded with runs of their own but IWU remained ahead. Tomhave drove in another run in the sixth inning, and further runs were added in the seventh and eighth innings by Ferraro and Hudik, respectively. Carthage managed another run in the ninth, concluding the game at 9-4 in favor of IWU.

The teams will meet again on May 3 for a doubleheader at Jack Horenberger Field in Bloomington, Illinois, starting at 1 p.m. Weather-related updates will be provided on iwusports.com.