IW baseball earns split at Eureka

EUREKA, Ill. - Iowa Wesleyan opened up a three-game series against Eureka College Friday. The Tigers earned the split after taking game one by a score of 1-0 and dropping game two 24-5.

In a game that saw just seven total hits from both teams combined, Iowa Wesleyan had the advantage over the Red Devils in game one with four hits to three. Four different Tigers recorded hits, but Jacob Leonard had the one that mattered most. Leonard broke up a scoreless game with a solo home run in the top of the third.

Joe Morrison and the IW defense held Eureka's offense in check through the final five innings. Morrison secured the complete game shutout after seven innings of work, no walks, and two strikeouts.

Game two was a different story for both teams with the offenses combining for 34 hits. The Tigers opened the scoring with two runs in the first inning. Chazz Brown doubled to right field which brought home Jacob Leonard and Nick Salas. Eureka answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning, but IW regained the lead in the second. Dominic Gerace singled to center field and moved up to second after an error. On the play, Jack de Burgh scored the third run for the Tigers, giving them a 3-2 lead. The Red Devil offense exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the second.

The final runs for the Tigers came in the top of the fourth. Two runs scored when Cullen Papenhagen singled to the shortstop and Dominic Gerace and Jacob Leonard came across the plate. Eureka added 14 runs over the next three innings to get the split with Iowa Wesleyan.

Jacob Leonard and Nick Salas each recorded two hits to lead the Tiger offense. Cullen Papenhagen and Chazz Brown each hit two RBIs which was a team high.

Iowa Wesleyan will take on the Red Devils in the rubber match tomorrow afternoon in Eureka, Illinois. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. The Tigers are now 4-13-1 overall and 2-4 in SLIAC play.