CLINTON – Roderick Barcelo (Jr.-Vega Baja, Puerto Rico) homered three times in the second game and four times on the day as the Iowa Wesleyan College baseball team swept a doubleheader from Ashford University on Saturday.
Barcelo drove in eight runs as IWC capped the day with a 19-1, five-inning win over the Saints in the day’s second game. That came after the left fielder had a homer and three hits in a 9-5 win in the opener. The Tigers picked up two wins in their Midwest Collegiate Conference openers and improved to 17-10 on the season.
Wesleyan had 11 hits in the opening win, including three hits and three RBIs from Jay Olson (Fr.-Agency, Iowa). The Tigers never trailed but needed five runs in the last three innings to break a 4-4 tie after four innings.
Olson, Barcelo and Jared Zueck (Jr.-Williamsville, Ill.) all homered in the first game. Justin DeVoe (Sr.-Newton, Iowa) pitched a complete game for IWC and overpowered the Saints with 16 strikeouts while allowing seven hits and five runs.
IWC fell behind 1-0 in the second game before exploding for 19 runs in the next four innings. Barcelo started the outburst with a two-run homer as part of a four-run second inning. Edder Morales (Jr.-Barquisimeto, Venezuela), Devin Smith (Sr.-Lynwood, Ill.) and Pedro Hernandez (Jr.-Quebradillas, Puerto Rico) all homered, with Hernandez delivering the final blow with a grand slam in the top of the fifth.
Barcelo finished with four hits and four runs scored, while Hernandez added three hits and five RBIs. Morales also had three hits and drove in three. Travis Parker (Jr.-Taylor Ridge, Ill.) was the recipient of all the run support and pitched all five strong innings, allowing just two hits while striking out four.
The Tigers and Saints wrap up their weekend series with a single nine-inning game Sunday starting at noon.
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.
Box score Game 1 IWC 9 AU 5
Box score Game 2 IWC 19 AU 1
