Iowa Wesleyan trumps Trojans on opening weekend

MEMPHIS, TN. — The first day of the Iowa Wesleyan baseball season saw the Tigers face what will be an extra familiar foe in the near future. The Tigers met with future American Midwest Conference rival Hannibal-LaGrange University thrice over the weekend, and it was a 3-0 Tiger weekend.

Iowa Wesleyan started things out with a 13-4 win over the Trojans on Friday. In two seven-inning games on Saturday, the Tigers took games 5-0, 7-0.

Game 1 on Friday was tight through four innings, as the Trojans and Tigers were tied 4-4. Iowa Wesleyan scored six runs in the fifth, two in the sixth and one in the eighth to bust things open.

C Vicente led Iowa Wesleyan at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Drew Cook, Julian Figueroa and David Amaya each added two RBIs.

Tiger starter Luis Ayesa gave up four runs (two earned) on eight hits and two talks, while striking out four batters. Pedro Ramirez and Erik Kiewiet combined for four shut out innings on the back end.

Games 2 and 3 were dominated by Tiger starting pitcher. Cuay Massner gave up just five hits over six innings in the first game on Saturday, and Jackson Van Roekel gave up five hits over six in the finale. Roekel struck out seven batters over that time.

Amaya was 2-for-3 in Game 2. Phillip Guerrero and Holvin Catala each drove in one run.

Sage Bonner was 1-for-1 with two RBIs in Game 3. Amaya stayed hot, going 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Iowa Wesleyan is now 3-0 to start the season. The Tigers will be in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on Friday to start a four-game series against Mid American Christian.