DES MOINES – It was all or nothing for the Iowa Wesleyan College bats as the Tigers split a Midwest Collegiate Conference baseball doubleheader against Grand View University on Wednesday, winning the opener 12-5 before losing the second game 1-0.
The Tigers had 15 hits in the first game against the Vikings, bouncing back from an early deficit for a resounding win. IWC then was held to just six hits in the second game and wasn’t able to capitalize on a terrific pitching performance by Milton Gonzalez (Jr.-Canovanas, Puerto Rico), dropping the Tigers to 22-12 overall, 7-2 in the MCC.
Wesleyan began the afternoon with tough start in the opener as Grand View scored four times in the second inning against Hector Acevedo (Sr.-Guaynabo, Puerto Rico). The Tigers came back quickly, though, tallying six times in the top of the third as Diego Marquez (Jr.-Los Mochis Sinoloa, Mexico) and Edder Morales (Jr.-Barquisimeto, Venezuela) both homered and Jared Zueck (Jr.-Williamsville, Ill.) doubled in two.
IWC would continue to roll, scoring six more runs over the next three innings. Nelcicio York (Jr.-St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles) hit his first home run of the season and Marquez had a two-run single as the Tigers pulled away. Staked to the lead, Acevedo was in control and finished with nine strikeouts in six innings for his fifth win of the season. The win for Wesleyan also means the Tigers have surpassed their total of 21 wins for all of last year, and the 22 wins are already the sixth-most in a season in school history.
As much as offense ruled the first game, it was the pitchers in charge in the second game. Grand View’s Austin Denny scattered six hits over seven innings and struck out five for the complete game shutout win.
Meanwhile, Gonzalez was every bit as strong, allowing just two hits while striking out four. The junior hurler had the misfortune of having both of hits allowed coming in succession in the third inning, though, as Chris Cutler singled and then John Most followed with a double to score the Vikings’ only run.
Pedro Hernandez (Jr.-Quebradillas, Puerto Rico) led the Tiger hitters with a total of five hits over the two games. Frany Cruz (Sr.-Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) added four hits while York and Jay Olson (Fr.-Agency, Iowa) both had three each.
Kyler Morgan and Cameron Olinger led the Vikings with two hits each on the day. With the doubleheader split Grand View is now 6-16 overall, 3-3 in the MCC.
The Tigers are next scheduled to play a three-game series against Mount Mercy College this weekend in Cedar Rapids. The series starts with a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. at Xavier High School.
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 12 GVU 5
Box score Game 2 GVU 1 IWC 0
