Illinois Wesleyan 2008 Baseball Stories

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IWU Rankings in 2008 National Polls

Illinois Wesleyan 2008 Baseball Preseason Information

May 8
Freshman catcher Pat Garvey hit a grand slam home run over the leftfield fence to cap a six-run eighth inning and lead Illinois Wesleyan to a 7-5 victory over Wheaton on Thursday, May 8, in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin tournament. The Titans trailed 5-1 despite a 10 strikeout effort by sophomore Brent Kulavic. Sean McCreary (2-1) got the win and sophomore Geoff Page earned his second save by pitching a perfect ninth inning. Tim McInerney was the lone Titan to have two hits as IWU amassed six. Wheaton (23-13) got two hits and two RBI from Brian Kolb and Tim Urbanowicz pitched seven innings and struck out five. The No. 8-ranked Titans (31-8) will play at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 9, against Augustana, a 6-5 winner over Carthage.

May 8
Illinois Wesleyan sophomore righthander Brent Kulavic was named NCAA Division III National “Pitcher of the Week” for the week of April 28-May 4, the ninth and final awards of the season, as chosen by members of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Kulavic (Springfield, Ill., Pleasant Plains HS) struck out eight batters and allowed only two hits, none after the third inning, and one unearned run in a 2-1 win at Carthage on May 1. He went the distance in the seven-inning game, raising his record to a perfect 6-0.  The win gave Wesleyan a one-game lead over the Red Men en route to winning two-of-three games during a weekend series, which earned the Titans the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin regular season title.  He was the CCIW “Pitcher of the Week.” Gwynedd-Mercy College junior first baseman Tim McMenamin was the national “Hitter of the Week” as he hit .600 (6-for-10) with three homers, 15 total bases, eight runs scored, 12 RBI, and a 1.500 slugging percentage en route to being named the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference Tournament Co-Most Valuable Player.

May 6
In a game that saw 19 pitchers toe the rubber (10 for Blackburn and nine for Illinois Wesleyan), the Titans defeated the Beavers, 10-3, at Horenberger Field on Tuesday, May 6. IWU, now 30-8, has moved up to No. 8 in the American Baseball Coaches Association poll of May 5 and is No. 12 in the D3baseball.com poll. Blackburn fell to 13-17. The 19 combined pitchers is believed to be an NCAA Division III record for most relief appearances for two teams in one game. The nine Titan pitchers combined to allow two earned runs on eights hits with 10 strikeouts and one walk. Matt Caruso recorded his second victory of the season. Pat Garvey had two hits and two RBIs for IWU, while Bob Huppert drove in two runs. Kraig Ladd and Kevin Goshorn each had two hits. The Titans finished with 10 hits, all singles.

May 6
For the second time this season, Illinois Wesleyan sophomore righthander Brent Kulavic has been named “Pitcher of the Week” for baseball in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Kulavic (Springfield, Ill., Pleasant Plains HS) struck out eight batters and allowed only two hits and one unearned run in a 2-1 win at Carthage on May 1. The win gave Illinois Wesleyan a one-game lead over the Red Men en route to winning two-of-three games during a weekend series, which earned the Titans the CCIW regular season title. IWU has moved up to No. 8 in the American Baseball Coaches Association poll of May 5 and is No. 12 in the D3baseball.com poll. The Titans host the CCIW tournament May 8-10.

May 2
In completion of a suspended game from May 1, the Illinois Wesleyan baseball team scored two runs in the top of the 10th to claim a 7-5 win over Carthage on Fri., May 2 in Kenosha, Wis., and win its second straight College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championship. The Titans are 29-8 overall and finished 18-3 in the CCIW and will host the league tourney beginning May 8. In the 7-5 win, sophomore shortstop Mike Cunningham and senior second baseman Ricky Angel drove home the winning and insurance runs as Sean McCreary (1-1) got the win and sophomore Geoff Page earned his first save. Six Titans each had two hits in the game. In the regularly scheduled game, Carthage (31-4,17-4 CCIW) hammered out 21 hits in an 18-8 win. The Titans host Blackburn at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6.

May 1
The second game of a doubleheader on Thursday, May 1, between Illinois Wesleyan and Carthage was suspended due to darkness after the ninth inning deadlocked at 5-5. The two teams will resume that game at noon Friday, May 2, prior to their regularly-scheduled single game in Kenosha, Wis. The Titans jumped out to a 4-0 lead in game two and led 5-1 before the Red Men battled back with the home run ball to tie the game in the eighth. In the first game, sophomore Brent Kulavic pitched a seven-inning, complete game two-hitter and junior Kevin Goshorn hit a sixth inning solo home run to give IWU a 2-1 win over Carthage. IWU's first four batters reached base to start the game and the Titans led, 1-0 before Carthage tied the score on an unearned run in the second. Kulavic struck out eight, including two hitters in the ninth. No. 12-ranked Wesleyan improved to 28-7 overall and 17-2 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin while No. 5 ranked Carthage fell to 30-3, 16-3 CCIW.

April 30
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team scored seven in the second and five more in the fourth en route to a 15-1 win over Rockford at Horenberger Field on Wednesday, April 30. Casey McIntosh had three runs batted in, Tim McInerney and Johnny Kwiatkowski each had three hits and Tim Marzec and Mike Morrissey each had two hits in a 16-hit Wesleyan attack. Sophomore Pat Kirchhofer improved to 4-1, allowing three hits and striking out five. As a result of a rainy weekend forecast, Illinois Wesleyan (27-7) and Carthage, both 16-2 in the league, will now play a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 1 and a single game at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 2 in Kenosha, Wis. This advances the key conference series one day.

April 29
Division I Illinois State put up six runs in the eighth inning to earn a come-from behind 7-4 win over Illinois Wesleyan on Tuesday, April 29 at the 5th Annual Horenberger-Bass Classic, held at IWU. Kevin Konsler hit a grand slam home run to cap the comeback. IWU senior second baseman Ricky Angel hit a three-run home run and Kraig Ladd and Kevin Goshorn each had two hits in the loss. Sophomore Geoff Page pitched the first three innings, allowing only one hit and no runs against the Redbirds (19-22), who now lead the Classic series, 3-2. The Titans (26-7) host Rockford in a 6 p.m. single game on Wednesday, April 30.

April 27
In a Sunday brunch special starting time of 10 on April 27, the Illinois Wesleyan baseball team completed a three-game sweep of North Park, 10-2, and improved to 26-6 overall and 16-2 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Junior Jesse Foster improved to 6-1 as he tossed seven innings, allowing six hits and striking out three. He got offensive support from Kevin Goshorn's three-run home run and freshman catcher Pat Garvey and sophomore first baseman Casey McIntosh each had three hits in the Titans' 12-hit attack. Goshorn's home run was his fourth and he had four RBI. Wesleyan next hosts crosstown rival Illinois State in the 5th annual Bass/Horenberger Classic at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29. The series is tied, 2-2.

April 26
On "Seniors' Day" at Horenberger Field, the Illinois Wesleyan baseball team swept a pair of games from North Park by scores of 9-5 and 8-6 on Saturday, April 26. In the opener, senior Ricky Angel clubbed a three-run home run in the fourth to put IWU ahead to stay, 7-5. Angel had three hits while senior Tim McInerney and Tim Marzec each had two. Brent Kulavic (5-0) was the winning hurler, striking out five in five innings for the Titans (now 25-6 overall, 15-2 CCIW). Sophomore Kraig Ladd had four hits in the second game and Angel had two hits including another three-run homer. McInerney, Marzec, Mike Cunningham and Pat Garvey each had two of IWU's 18 hits to support winning pitcher Matt Aronson, who improved to 6-0 by striking out eight and scattering seven hits in seven frames. The final game of the series against the Vikings (16-18, 6-10 CCIW) will be played at 10 a.m. Sunday, April 27 at "The Jack."

April 24
For his "heavenly" week at the plate, Illinois Wesleyan senior second baseman Ricky Angel earned the seventh NCAA Division III National Hitter of the Week award for the week of April 14-20, 2008, as chosen by members of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Angel, who was named the conference "Player of the Week," batted .500 (10-for-20) and had a 1.150 slugging percentage. He drove home seven runs in two separate games, going 2-for-3 with a grand slam and seven RBI in a 16-5 win against Wheaton April 19, and 2-for-6 with two three-run homers and seven RBI in a 14-12 win at Monmouth April 15. He was also 3-for-4 with two doubles and four RBI in a 17-10 win at Wheaton April 18. For the week, he had 22 RBI, four doubles and three homers, drew three walks and was hit by pitches twice for a .600 on-base percentage.

April 23
Illinois Wesleyan sophomore rightfielder Mike Morrissey tagged a grand slam home run in the fourth inning and the Titans improved to 23-6 with a 7-4 win at Benedictine in Lisle, Ill., on Wednesday, April 23. Junior designated hitter Kevin Goshorn had two ninth inning runs batted in with a double and senior second baseman Ricky Angel drove home the other Wesleyan run in the seventh. Sophomore Pat Kirchhofer (3-1) was the winning pitcher, going 6 2/3 innings and striking out six. Freshman Jason Pankau went the final 2 1/3 hitlesss innings on the mound and fanned two.

April 22
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team scored six unearned runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to earn a come-from-behind 8-7 win over Concordia (Chicago) on Tuesday, April 22 at Horenberger Field. After two strikeouts, an error on the third baseman allowed the inning to continue for four more hits, the key blow a bases-loaded triple by sophomore shortstop Mike Cunningham, who came home to score the game winning run on a Tim McInerney single to rightfield. Sophomore Alex Tosi (1-1) was the winning pitcher in relief of sophomore starter Geoff Page, who struck out nine in 7 2/3 innings. The Titans, who host North Park for conference games April 25 and 26, improved to 22-6 while the Cougars fell to 23-9.

April 22
Illinois Wesleyan senior second baseman Ricky Angel has been named College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin “Player of the Week” for baseball on April 22. Angel was 10-for-20 (.500) and had a 1.150 slugging percentage as the Titans were 4-1 last week. Angel drove home seven runs in two separate games - going two-for-three with a grand slam and seven RBI in a 16-5 win against Wheaton on April 19 and he was two-for-six with two three-run homers and seven RBI in a 14-12 win at Monmouth on April 15. He was also three-for-four with two doubles and four RBI in a 17-10 win at Wheaton April 18. For the week Angel had 22 RBI, four doubles and three homers, drew three walks and was hit by pitches twice for a .600 on-base percentage. In the win over Monmouth, Angel became the school’s all-time leader in career RBI with 153.

April 19
For the second time this week, senior second baseman Ricky Angel had seven runs batted in in a game to power the Illinois Wesleyan baseball team to a 16-5 win in the second game of a doubleheader vs. Wheaton on Saturday, April 19, at Horenberger Field. IWU (21-6 overall and 13-2 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) was limited to six hits as it lost the first game by a 7-5 score when Wheaton scored three runs in the top of the seventh in the come-from-behind win. Wesleyan banged out 19 hits in the second game as Angel had a grand slam homer and a three-run double. Sophomore first baseman Casey McIntosh, who homered in game one, had four hits in the nightcap and Tim Marzec and Mike Morrissey each had three hits. Junior Jesse Foster (5-1) got the pitching decision as he struck out four and scattered 12 hits in six innings. Wesleyan hosts Concordia (Ill.) at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22.

April 18
Every starting position player got a base hit as the Illinois Wesleyan baseball team came from behind to top Wheaton, 17-10, on the road on Friday, April 18. The Titans, who scored six runs in the top of the seventh to take the lead for keeps, improved to 20-5 overall and 12-1 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Senior Ricky Angel, sophomores Kraig Ladd and Mike Morrissey and freshman Pat Garvey each got three hits while senior Tim McInerney, Angel and Garvey all collected three runs batted in apiece against the Thunder (16-10 overall, 5-7 CCIW). Matt Aronson pitched six innings to earn the win and improve to 5-0 while Sean McCreary pitched three quality innings to earn his fourth save. The Titans and Thunder are slated to play a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Horenberger Field on Saturday, April 19.

April 17
Illinois Wesleyan scored four in the second, two in the third and fourth, and five runs in the fifth to administer a 13-2 defeat of Washington U. at Horenberger Field on Thursday, April 17. The No. 17-nationally ranked Titans improved to 19-5 and the Bears fell to 11-10. Junior designated hitter Kevin Goshorn had three hits, including a home run, and drove home four runs. Sophomore first baseman Casey McIntosh and senior centerfielder Tim McInerney also hit home runs for Wesleyan. Sophomore lefthander Matt Caruso was the starting hurler and the winner, allowing three hits and striking out four in four innings. Junior Kurt Dehning finished up with two solid innings of relief as the game was halted by the 10-run rule in the seventh.

April 15
In a schedule change, Illinois Wesleyan and Washington U. will now play a single game only at 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 17 at Horenberger Field. In play on April 15, senior second baseman Ricky Angel hit a three-run homer in the second and a three-run homer in the third to stake IWU to a big lead as the Titans defeated Monmouth, 14-12. The No. 17-nationally ranked Titans (18-5) led 12-3 before the Scots plated 10 runs in the fourth inning. Angel finished with seven runs batted in, giving him 153 for his career and making him the Titans' all-time leader in RBI, topping the old mark of 149 set by Aaron Koehlhoeffer from 1995-98. Sophomores Mike Cunningham and Mike Morrissey and senior Tim McInerney each had two hits and junior Tim Marzec had a three-hit day for IWU, who collected 14 hits. Junior Jesse Foster (3-1) earned the pitching victory with two innings of relief and Sean McCreary pitched the ninth to capture his third save of the season.

April 14
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team's 15-game winning streak came to an end with a 10-4 loss to Augustana on Monday, April 14 at Horenberger Field. The Titans' record falls to 17-5 overall and 11-1 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin while Augustana improved to 20-6, 7-4 CCIW. Third baseman Tim Marzec had three hits, all singles, and sophomore first baseman Casey McIntosh had a double and also blasted a three-run homer over the leftfield fence in the ninth inning. Sophomore Pat Kirchhofer (2-1) took the pitching loss, allowing five runs on nine hits in the first five innings. The Titans play a single game at Monmouth on Tuesday, April 15.

April 13
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team remained unbeaten in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin with a doubleheader sweep at Augustana on Sunday, April 13. In game one, IWU scored four in the first and two in the second en route to a 7-3 victory. Sophomore Brent Kulavic scattered nine hits in the seven-inning complete game and got offensive support from sophomore leftfielder Kraig Ladd (three hits, three RBI) and freshman catcher Pat Garvey (two RBI). IWU (17-4, 11-0 CCIW) scored three in the top of the 11th to claim a 10-7 win in the nightcap. Senior Tim McInerney had three hits and two RBI, senior Ricky Angel had two hits with a homer in the 11th and three RBI and junior Kevin Goshorn launched a three-run homer in the fourth inning. Junior Jesse Foster (3-1) got the win with two scoreless relief innings. The Titans and Vikings (19-6, 6-4 CCIW) will play at IWU at 4 p.m. on Monday, April 14.

April 9
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team scored three in the fourth, three in the seventh and single runs in the fifth and ninth to top Millikin, 8-6, in Decatur on Wednesday, April 9. IWU improved to 15-4 overall and 9-0 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin as they put together a 13-hit attack, including three doubles from Tim McInerney, a double and a triple from Pat Garvey, homers off the clubs of Ricky Angel and Mike Morrisey and a Kraig Ladd double. Jesse Foster (2-1) was the winning hurler in relief of Pat Kirchhofer and Sean McCreary pitched two scoreless innings against the Big Blue (8-10, 1-8 CCIW) to earn his second save of the year. IWU is scheduled to host Augustana in a doubleheader on Saturday, April 12 at 1 p.m.

April 8
The threat of soggy weather has caused the cancellation of the Illinois Wesleyan/Franklin baseball game scheduled for Tuesday, April 8 at Horenberger Field. There is no make-up date set. IWU sophomore Brent Kulavic has been named “Pitcher of the Week” for baseball in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin on April 8. Kulavic (Springfield, Ill., Pleasant Plains HS) was 2-0 and allowed seven hits and no runs in 15 innings. He struck out 13 and walked only one in his two complete game shutouts. On April 6 he pitched eight innings and struck out seven in a 10-0 win over North Central. On April 1 he struck out six and allowed two hits in a seven inning, 5-0 win over Millikin.

April 6
Illinois Wesleyan's baseball winning streak is at 12 games and sophomore Brent Kulavic's scoreless inning streak is at 23 after a 10-0 win over North Central on Sunday, April 6 at Horenberger Field. The Titans improved to 14-4 overall and 8-0 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Kulavic (3-0) allowed five hits and struck out seven in eight innings of the shortened game against the Cardinals (5-11, 0-6-1 CCIW). Sophomore leftfielder Kraig Ladd had a double and a homer, two singles and drove in three runs. Sophomore first baseman Casey McIntosh had a double and a homer and two RBI while senior centerfielder Tim McInerney also knocked home two runs. Junior third baseman Tim Marzec had two more of IWU's 15 hits. The Titans host Franklin (15-8) at 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 8.

April 5
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball winning streak went to 11 with a pair of league wins over North Central on Saturday, April 5 in Naperville. The Titans (13-4 overall, 7-0 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) won the first game, 12-6, and took the nightcap, 11-2. In game one, senior Ricky Angel got two hits to become the all-time IWU leader, passing Mick Curran, who had 222 from 2002-05. Sophomore Casey McIntosh had three hits and four RBI and Mike Morrissey also had three of IWU's 16 hits. Reliever Jason Pankau (1-0) was the winning pitcher. In game two, junior Matt Aronson (4-0) tossed a complete game, striking out 11 and scattering nine hits. He got offensive support from Nate Rittenberry, Pat Garvey and Kraig Ladd, all of whom collected three hits in a 17-hit attack. Ladd had three RBI and Angel added two more hits in game two vs. the Cardinals (5-10, 0-5-1 CCIW). The Titans host North Central at 1 p.m. in a single game on Sunday, April 6.

April 2
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team won its ninth straight game with a 6-2 decision over Elmhurst at IWU's Horenberger Field on Wednesday, April 2. The Titans improved to 11-4 overall and 5-0 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin while the Bluejays fell to 6-10, 1-4 CCIW. IWU got six strong innings from junior righthander Jesse Foster, who scattered seven hits and struck out five. Freshman catcher Pat Garvey had two hits including a bases-loaded double for three RBI and junior third baseman Tim Marzec had three hits. Sophomore leftfielder Kraig Ladd and senior centerfielder Tim McInerney also had two hits to aid offensively. IWU plays next in a doubleheader at North Central on Saturday, April 5.

April 1
Sophomore leftfielder Kraig Ladd and junior lefthanded pitcher Matt Aronson were named College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin “Players of the Week” April 1 after their performances during the previous week of competition. Ladd batted .583 (7-for-12) with three doubles and seven runs batted in to help IWU to three wins, including two CCIW wins. Ladd had two doubles and two RBI in the Titans’ 14-1 win over Elmhurst March 29. He then went two-for-four with another RBI in the nightcap, a 5-0 win. He was three-for-five with four RBI in an 8-0 non-conference win over Wabash on March 26. Aronson yielded three hits and struck out nine in eight innings of a 5-0 win over Elmhurst on March 29. He also struck out one in an inning against Wabash on March 26. The Titans pitching staff had an ERA of 0.00 for the week, allowing 13 hits and one unearned run in 25 innings in the three wins.

March 29
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team opened defense of its College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championship with a pair of wins over Elmhurst on Saturday, March 29. At Horenberger Field, the Titans won game one, 14-1, and took game two, 5-0, to improve to 8-4 overall and 2-0 in the CCIW. IWU exploded for 10 fourth inning runs in the opener and in the game, senior centerfielder Tim McInerney had three hits and three RBI while sophomore shortstop Mike Cunningham, sophomore leftfielder Kraig Ladd, Tim Marzec and Mike Morrissey each had two hits. Sophomore starting pitcher Marty Roche (2-0) struck out four and allowed five hits in five solid innings. Junior lefty Matt Aronson (3-0) yielded three hits and fanned nine in eight innings of game two as Cunningham and Ladd had two more hits and sophomore first baseman Casey McIntosh had two hits and three runs batted in with a home run. The Titans and Bluejays (5-8, 0-2 CCIW) are set to play a single game at Elmhurst at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 30.

March 26
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team took an 8-0 win over Wabash on Wednesday, March 26 in the home opener at Horenberger Field. Sophomore starting pitcher Brent Kulavic allowed only one hit and struck out eight in five innings of work. Sophomore leftfielder Kraig Ladd had three hits with a double and four runs batted in and senior second baseman Ricky Angel had two hits with a home run and two RBI. The Titans (6-4) open defense of their College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championship with a doubleheader against Elmhurst at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 29 at Horenberger Field.

March 25
Illinois Wesleyan sophomore shortstop Mike Cunningham has been named College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin baseball “Player of the Week” on March 25 after his performance during the previous week of competition. Cunningham (River Forest, Oak Park-River Forest HS) batted .550 (11-for-20) in five games with five RBI, two walks, a sacrifice and a double. Cunningham had four hits and two RBI and scored twice in a 21-16 loss at Millsaps. He had three hits in a win over Benedictine and two hits each against Mississippi College and Union University. He had a perfect fielding percentage with 19 assists and six put-outs and was one-for-one in stolen base attempts.

March 22
Illinois Wesleyan won a pair of games on Saturday, March 22, in St. Louis to extend its winning streak to three and improve to 5-4 this season. The Titans downed Benedictine, 9-6, and topped Washington U., 6-3. Against Benedictine (6-5), IWU got three hits each from Pat Garvey and Mike Cunningham, who also had two runs batted in. Tim McInerney added two hits and an RBI. Marty Roche pitched four innings to earn the win, striking out five and allowing two hits. In the second game, Matt Aronson (2-0) struck out seven and allowed six hits in picking up the win. Tim Marzec had three hits and McInerney added two more RBI as the Titans took advantage of five errors by the Bears (6-6). Wesleyan opens its home season Wednesday, March 26 with a 4:30 p.m. game against Wabash College.

March 20
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team found a dry place to play in Jackson, Tenn., and handed Union University a 6-2 loss on Thursday, March 20. The Titans, who snapped a three-game losing streak, improved to 3-4 while the Bulldogs fell to 10-6. Wesleyan banged out 15 hits in the win including three each from senior Ricky Angel (with two doubles) and sophomore Casey McIntosh and two each from junior Kevin Goshorn, sophomores Kraig Ladd and Mike Cunningham and freshman Pat Garvey. Goshorn also had two RBI. Junior Joe Froelich picked up the pitching decision in relief of junior Jesse Foster, who went the first four scoreless innings and allowed three hits with two walks. IWU’s next scheduled play is on Saturday, March 22 in St. Louis against Benedictine (10 a.m.) and Washington U. (1 p.m.).

March 19
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team lost a wind-blowing-out game to Millsaps, 21-16, on Tuesday, March 18, in Jackson, Miss. The Titans are now 2-4 and the Lynx improved to 16-7. IWU’s scheduled games on March 19 (at Rhodes) and March 20 (at Christian Brothers) in Memphis, Tenn., have both been cancelled due to rainy field conditions. Against Millsaps, senior Ricky Angel and junior Tim Marzec led the Titans offensive charge as each had a home run and three runs batted in. Sophomores Casey McIntosh and Mike Morrissey also cracked home runs for Wesleyan. IWU’s next scheduled play is on Saturday, March 22 in St. Louis against Benedictine (10 a.m.) and Washington U. (1 p.m.).

March 17
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team trailed 8-2 after the fourth inning but scored two in the seventh inning and two more in the ninth to make it interesting before losing to Mississippi College by an 8-6 score on Monday, March 17 in Clinton, Miss. The Titans (2-3) got two hits each from sophomore Kraig Ladd, freshman Pat Garvey and sophomore Mike Morrissey, who drove in three runs. Ladd also had an RBI. Losing hurler Jason Pankau allowed four hits and six earned runs in three innings to the Choctaws, who improved to 10-11 with their ninth win in the last 13 games. IWU's Southern swing continues with a 4 p.m. game at Millsaps in Jackson, Miss., on Tuesday, March 18.

March 15
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team split a pair of games on Saturday, March 15, at the Rose-Hulman Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind. The Titans won the first game, 5-4, over Rose-Hulman before losing by a 12-3 score to Adrian (Mich.). In the opener, senior Ricky Angel and sophomores Casey McIntosh and Mike Morrissey each had two hits and Angel had two RBI with a home run and McIntosh added an RBI. Sophomore Pat Kirchhofer earned the pitching win and sophomore Sean McCreary got the save. The No. 13-ranked Titans got two hits each from senior Tim McInerney and freshman Johnny Kwiatkowski in the second game. Junior Joe Froelich was the losing pitcher, allowing only three earned runs in four innings. The Titans (2-2) play next at Mississippi College at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 17.

March 14
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team opened its season with a split at the Rose-Hulman Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind., on Friday, March 14. The Titans lost to Adrian, 9-2, in the season opener then came back to down Rose-Hulman, 6-1 in the second game. IWU banged out 13 hits in the win to back the pitching of junior lefthander Matt Aronson, who allowed five hits and one run while striking out five in eight innings. Tim McInerney, Ricky Angel, Pat Garvey, Kevin Goshorn and Casey McIntosh each had two hits and Kraig Ladd knocked in two runs with a double. McIntosh and Garvey also had doubles. The No. 13-ranked Titans managed only seven hits in the opener as Nate Rittenberry had two and McInerney had a double and drove home both IWU runs. Jesse Foster (0-1) hit five batters in 5 1/3 innings. IWU will face the same two teams in Terre Haute on Saturday, March 15.

February 6
The defending champion Illinois Wesleyan baseball team has been picked to finish second in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin annual preseason coaches’ poll. IWU (32-13 last season and 20-1 in the CCIW) earned 44 points, including three first place votes, trailing Carthage with 46 points and four first place votes. The Titans are ranked No. 27 in the preseason baseball poll done by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and Ricky Angel and Matt Aronson are D3baseball.com preseason All-Americans. The Red Men were 37-13 and advanced to the NCAA Division III College World Series last year. Augustana was third with 39 points and one first place vote. Elmhurst, Wheaton, North Park, North Central and Millikin rounded out the poll in order. Each coach votes for the seven other schools in the conference in order of predicted finish. Points are assigned in reverse order of voting (seven points for first, six for second, etc.). Coaches may not vote for their own team.

January 18
Illinois Wesleyan senior infielder Ricky Angel was among four unanimous selections on the D3baseball.com Preseason All-America Team released on Thursday, January 17. IWU pitcher Matt Aronson joined Angel on the first team. Angel was the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Player of the Year and on the first team of All-American squads chosen by the American Baseball Coaches Association and D3baseball.com last season. He batted .452, tied for 14th in NCAA Division III and third best in an IWU season. He had a school-record 75 hits, 10 home runs and his 19 doubles and 54 runs batted in are second most in an IWU season. He had a .771 slugging percentage, ninth best in Division III, and scored 40 runs. Aronson, a second-team All-American and CCIW Pitcher of the Year, was 8-0 with a school-record 0.85 earned run average, second best in Division III. He had 70 strikeouts, fourth best in a Titan season.
Also, the Titans are ranked No. 27 in the preseason baseball poll done by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

January 4
Twenty-three lettermen are scheduled to return for the 2008 version of the Illinois Wesleyan baseball team, which opens March 8 in Terre Haute, Ind., against Rose-Hulman in the Rose-Hulman tournament. The 2007 Titans were 32-13 overall and advanced to the NCAA Division III regional for the third time in the last four years. IWU set a league wins record in going 20-1 to take the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin regular season title.
Leading the returning players is senior second baseman Ricky Angel, last year's “Most Valuable Player” as he hit .452, had a school-record 75 hits, 10 home runs and his 19 doubles and 54 runs batted in is second most in an IWU season. With 200 career hits, Angel is within striking distance of the school career mark of 222, set by Mick Curran from 2002-05.
Also returning is junior lefthander Matt Aronson, the 2007 team’s “Most Valuable Pitcher," junior outfielder Bob Huppert (2007 “Most Improved Player”), sophomore shortstop Mike Cunningham and sophomore first baseman Casey McIntosh (co-winners of 2007 “Top Newcomer” award). Aronson was 8-0 with a school-record 0.85 earned run average, second best in Division III in 2007.
Head coach Dennis Martel will begin his 20th season with a career mark of 507-330-3.