LEBANON, TENN. –Jorge Martinez (Jr.-Tucson, Ariz.) allowed one earned run in six innings and Edder Morales (Jr.-Barquisimeto, Venezuela) drove in three runs as Iowa Wesleyan College defeated Cumberland (Tenn.) University 4-2 in the second game of the teams’ doubleheader Sunday.
The Tigers (3-5 overall) took the last game of the weekend series when it was called after six innings due to darkness, avoiding a four-game sweep at the hands of Cumberland (6-3 overall). Martinez pitched the whole way and struck out eight for his second win of the season and second complete game in two outings.
Morales had two run-scoring hits in the game, including a single in the second to drive in Wesleyan’s first run and a two-run double in the sixth for a 4-1 lead. Diego Marquez (Jr.-Los Mochas Sinaloa, Mexico) drove in the other run for the Tigers with a single in the third inning to score Devin Smith (Sr.-Lynwood, Ill.).
The win in the second game of the doubleheader came after IWC allowed Sunday’s opener to get away from them. The Tigers led 5-3 going into the bottom of the seventh inning, but the Bulldogs scored three times and won 6-5.
IWC had just taken a 5-3 lead an inning earlier, rallying with three runs in the top of the sixth when Morales and Smith singled in runs and Edwin Jimenez (Sr.-Lawrenceville, Ga.) drove in the lead run with a sacrifice fly. Cumberland seized the game in the seventh, though, with a lead-off double and then a series of bloop hits followed by a wild pitch and an intentional walk. The Bulldogs then scored the winning run with a walk with the bases loaded and nobody out.
Cumberland, ranked 11th in the NAIA, opened the series on Saturday with a pair of wins. The Bulldogs exploded for eight runs in the fifth to win the opener 14-4, and broke open a close game late with four runs in the fifth for a 7-3 win in the second game.
Jared Zueck (Jr.-Williamsville, Ill.) had just singled in Jay Olson (Fr.-Agency, Iowa) to tie the game in the top of the fifth in the second game, but the Bulldogs came back with a pair of two-run doubles. Wesleyan out-hit Cumberland 7-3 in the second game but committed four errors.
IWC hits the road again later this week, this time for spring break and a nine-day trip to Kansas City and through Oklahoma and Texas. The Tigers open the trip with a series in Kansas City against Avila (Mo.) University beginning Friday with a doubleheader starting at 1 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.
