EDMONTON, KY. – Iowa Wesleyan College received strong pitching performances from newcomers Milton Gonzalez (Jr.-Canovanas, Puerto Rico) and Jorge Martinez (Jr.-Tucson, Ariz.) to sweep a doubleheader against Lindsey Wilson College on Sunday, splitting the four-game series with the Blue Raiders this weekend.
The Tigers won by scores of 5-2 and 7-1 on Sunday, coming back after losing by scores of 3-2 and 12-8 on Saturday. The result was a 2-2 start to the season for IWC in its opening series of the 2009 season.
Wesleyan was led by complete game pitching efforts from Gonzalez and Martinez on Sunday, as the pair of junior college transfers combined to allow just one earned run over 14 innings. Both also received early run support in their games to help the Tigers bounce back from a pair of tough losses on Saturday.
Gonzalez allowed just one hit in the opener on Sunday, striking out seven and allowing just two unearned runs. Pedro Hernandez (Jr.-Quebradillas, Puerto Rico) had a pair of hits in the game, driving in a pair of runs.
Martinez followed that up with another dominant game, allowing six hits and one run while striking out seven. He received a cushion to work with from the start as well, as the Tigers scored six times in the first inning, highlighted by a bases-loaded three-run double by Jorge Diaz (Sr.-Orocovis, Puerto Rico).
IWC started the weekend with a pair of losses on Saturday, including a tough 3-2 loss in eight innings in the season opener. Justin DeVoe (Sr.-Newton, Iowa) allowed one run and struck out seven over six innings, but Lindsey Wilson scored on a passed ball with two out in the bottom of the eighth to win.
The Blue Raiders also won the second game, jumping out to an 11-0 lead after four innings before Wesleyan came on late. Edwin Jimenez (Sr.-Lawrenceville, Ga.) drove in three runs and Edder Morales (Jr.-Barquisimeto, Venezuela) had three hits in Saturday’s nightcap.
Frany Cruz (Sr.-Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) had eight hits over the four games, while Jimenez drove in four on the weekend. With the wind blowing in all weekend home runs were scarce, and Diego Marquez (Jr.-Los Mochas Sinaloa, Mexico) had the lone homer on the weekend, a solo shot in the opening game.
IWC will venture south and east again this weekend to face Cumberland (Tenn.) University, ranked 11th in the NAIA preseason coaches’ poll. The four-game series will start Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.
For more information regarding the IWC baseball program or any of the Tiger athletic teams, contact sports information director Adam Glatczak (319-385-6306 phone; 319-385-6384 FAX; aglatczak@iwc.edu e-mail) or log on to IWC's athletics web site at www.iwc.edu/athletics.
