IW baseball rebounds in back-to-back

The Iowa Wesleyan baseball team had its ups and downs on Tuesday afternoon, but the Tigers ended strong after falling in the first game of a doubleheader against William Woods University.

In game one of the two game series, the Owls got on the board first, leaping out to a 2-0 lead after one inning.

After four scoreless innings, Iowa Wesleyan scored its first run of the game in the sixth. The Tiger’s David Amaya hit an RBI single, bringing Cristian Cordero across home plate. Phillip Guerrero then delivered with a double to score Drew Cook, tying the game at 2-2.

An inning later the Owls sullied hopes of a Tigers comeback.

William Woods pulled out the win with a walk off sacrifice fly, making it a 3-2 ballgame.

Guerrero was 1-3 in the box with a double and a single RBI. Amaya finished 1-3, with a single and an RBI. Cook ended 1-2 with a single. Cordero was 1-4 with a single at the plate.

Jackson Van Roekel pitched 6.1 innings for the Tigers. Van Roekel gave up two runs and five hits.

In game two, the Owls once again struck first. William Woods poured in five runs in the second inning.

To William Woods shock, the bats awoke for Iowa Wesleyan.

Carlos Vicente hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Amaya to give the Tigers their first run of the game. Froymer Ortega followed with a single to score Corbin Broeker.

Cordero continued the Tigers roll with a double, scoring Guerrero. Julian Figueroa then hit a single to score Ortega. On the same play, an error by the Owls’ left fielder brought Cordero home. Amaya walked up to the plate for the second time in the inning and delivered a double to score Gabe Hernandez and Figueroa, marking the end of the seven-run inning. A 5-0 lead by the Owls was extinguished in one inning, as the Tigers now led 7-5.

Iowa Wesleyan continued to pour it on in the fourth. The Tigers loaded the bases and Cordero hit a single to score Vicente. Sage Bonner was then walked to bring Guerrero home. Ortega followed on a passed ball.

Figueroa hit a sacrifice fly to score Cordero. Broeker then hit a double to score Bonner, making it a 12-5 game after four inning of play.

In the fifth, the Tigers added two more runs, as Cordero hit a two-run homer to make it 14-5.

Cordero had himself a game, going 4-4 from the plate. Ortega was 3-5 on the day. Amaya ended 2-4 in the game.

Cauy Massner pitched 5.2 innings, giving up no runs and one hit. He struck out nine batters.

Iowa Wesleyan will return to action on Tuesday, April 26. The Tigers will travel to Peosta, Iowa to take on Clarke University.