Baseball team downed by Illinois Wesleyan, 13-3

MILLINGTON, Tenn. – The Olivet College baseball team started its spring break trip with a 13-3 setback to Illinois Wesleyan University today at the March Madness II event inside the USA Baseball Stadium.

• Final Score: Illinois Wesleyan 13, Olivet 3
• Location: USA Baseball Stadium; Millington, Tennessee
• Records: Olivet 0-8 overall, Illinois Wesleyan 2-6 overall

• The Titans scored a run in the first and second innings. Olivet pushed across one run in the third inning before Illinois Wesleyan answered with a single tally in the top of sixth inning.
• A wild pitch brought in a run for the Comets in the bottom half of the sixth. The Titans extended their lead to 6-3 on a three-run homer in the seventh.
• Olivet loaded bases with three straight hits to start the last half of the seventh inning. The Comets managed only one run, as a double play scored the run and groundout ended the inning.
• Illinois Wesleyan sent 12 batters to the plate and scored seven runs in the eighth inning. Olivet was retired 1-2-3 in the home half of the eighth to end the game early due to the eight-run mercy rule.

• Olivet finished the game with 11 hits.
• Freshmen Braden Abbott and Isaac Moore, and senior Sylas Woll all went 2-for-4. The lone extra base hit from three players was a triple by Abbott.
• Sophomore Ben Helgevold was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two doubles.
• Freshman Bryan Carney suffered the pitching loss, as he gave up six runs (five earned) on nine hits over six and two-thirds innings.

• At the plate, Jalen Ping was 4-for-4.
• Ethan Burgh and Evan Hutson each had three hits.
• Louis Perona drove in four runs.
• Dalen Banks earned the pitching win, allowing two runs (one earned) on eight hits over the first six innings. He struck out eight batters.

• The Comets face Ripon (Wis.) College tomorrow at 11 a.m.