Box Score

Bloomington, Ill. – A big fourth inning propelled Illinois Wesleyan to a 9-2 non-conference win Tuesday night over the visiting Prairie Fire.

Trailing 2-1 going into the top of the fifth, Knox drew even on a two out single by senior Phil Tallman (Park Ridge, IL, Maine South) that scored first-year Paul Sanders (Rock Island, IL, Rock Island).

IWU came back with four runs in the bottom of the fourth on four hits and an infield error to reclaim the lead for good at 6-2.  The Titans added two runs in the sixth and one in the eighth to close out the scoring.

Illinois Wesleyan (13-8) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning following a one out double, a wild pitch, and a sacrifice fly off of sophomore hurler Jeremy Gogoel (Elgin, IL, Hampshire).

Knox (10-8) got on the board in the top of the third when sophomore Austin Bevenue (Millstadt, IL, Belleville Althoff) reached base on a fielder's choice that scored senior Michael O'Connell (Park Ridge, IL, Maine South), who led off the inning with a single.

IWU answered with one run in the bottom of the third to grab a 2-1 lead.

Five pitchers for the Titans combined to allow four hits and a walk while striking out nine.  The win was the eighth in the last nine games for IWU.

First-year Ryan Weitendorf (New Lenox, IL, Lincoln-Way East) had two hits to lead the Prairie Fire, who committed six errors.

Gogoel (0-1) suffered the loss in his second start of the season.  He gave up five runs -- two earned --and six hits with one strikeout and one walk in four innings.

Sophomore Marty Salazar (Normal, IL, Normal Community), senior Bryan Leslie (Richmond, IL, Richmond-Burton), and first-year Alec Jordan (Spring Grove, IL, Richmond-Burton) worked the final four innings out of the bullpen.

Knox hosts a doubleheader against Midwest Conference South Division foe Illinois College on Saturday.  The first game starts at 12:00 p.m.