Bloomington, Ill. – A sunny 49-degree afternoon set the scene for the home opener at Horenberger Field. The Illinois Wesleyan University baseball team welcomed Wabash College on March 27. Concluding the three-game series Wabash rained on the Titans parade using a four-run seventh inning to win the game 7-4. With the setback, the Titans record now sits at 4-11.
Setting the loss aside this game saw some good for the Titans.
Junior pitcher Aidan Smith got the start for the second time this season. Smith settled in nicely after only pitching one inning in his last outing and letting up four runs. The junior retired nine straight allowing no hits or walks. Smith handled the strike zone very well pitching to contact, as he retired six batters through groundouts.
Calling the bullpen to start the fourth inning might be a questionable decision looking at it now as Smith had only thrown 32 pitches and looked unhittable.
Freshman Christian Schloneger came out of the bullpen pitching his third outing of the year and letting up a homerun in his first at bat.
After a seven pitch at bat where he earned a walk, senior Ethan Burgh opened the scoring for the Titans. Burgh brought in the runner from second with a single out to right field.
“The Wabash pitcher showed me his whole arsenal for my first plate appearance,” Burgh said. “A lefty was on the mound so I had the approach I would see an off-speed pitch and take any fastballs to right field which I was able to do.”
Burgh continues to have success at the plate hitting .400 on the year and adding two hits to his tally. One of the hits in the bottom of the sixth brought in the runner from second and placed Burgh, who later scored in the inning. Burgh’s early season success has cemented himself in the clean-up slot of the lineup.
The name of the game was pitching as the Titans made another call to the bullpen in the top of the seventh after a scoreless outing by freshman Jack Flagg.
Sophomore Lucas Wenz was charged with the loss after tossing 31 pitches, five hits and four earned runs.
Catching the game was senior Jalen Ping who has been a staple in the Titan outfield. Ping, a two-year transfer from Lincoln Land Community College, caught there but hadn’t been behind the plate all year.
“Putting him back there behind the plate gave us the best opportunity and a chance as a team to win games,” Burgh said. “ It gives a couple of other guys who can hit the opportunity to play in the outfield and show they can be in the everyday lineup.”
The Titans threatened in the bottom of the ninth with back-to-back hitters getting on base. After a pair of strikeouts and a force-out at second Wabash’s pitching staff closed out the game only using two pitchers.
The Titans open CCIW play when they host North Park University for a three-game series on April 1-2.
“Going out this weekend and getting a sweep against North Park will spark immense confidence into the team and give us an early lead to be high in the standings and not play catch up going late into conference play,” Burgh said.