BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Wartburg baseball dropped both of its games against Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday, March 13 by scores of 10-13 and 5-6 on Horenberger Field. The games marked the first time the two programs have met since the 2009 campaign. 

The Orange & Black (2-4, 0-0 A-R-C) will begin American Rivers Conference action on Friday, March 19 with a doubleheader against the University of Dubuque (0-5, 0-0 A-R-C) in Dubuque with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m. 

Illinois Wesleyan 13, Wartburg 10
The Titans ripped off a five-run third inning and recorded three tallies in the eighth to take down the Knights. 

Wartburg's bats were hot to begin the game as they recorded four runs in the first, including a Ben DeKruyf two-run homer. The Titans battled back in the third with five runs, highlighted by Jacob Cyrus' double to left center that brought in three base runners. The Knights put up another four tallies in the eighth to tie the game but Cyrus' three-run moon shot in the bottom of the inning secured the victory for the Titans. 

Wartburg totaled 14 hits in the contest with Parker Ridge leading the way with four and DeKruyf recorded three RBIs. Dylan Gotto, Aaron Eybers and Joey Ciero all saw time on the mound with Gotto pitching the majority of the contest with 5.2 innings.  

Illinois Wesleyan 6, Wartburg 5
After Wartburg recorded two runs in the ninth to tie the game, the Titans' Evan Hutson's RBI to left field in the bottom of the ninth walked off the win for Illinois Wesleyan. 

The Knights tied the game at two apiece in the third but gave up a three-run fourth inning and faced a 5-3 deficit heading into the ninth. Carter Stubitz went yard in the the sixth to bring it within a two-run game and Ridge hit a two RBI double down left field to tie the contest in the final inning. However, the Titans won it in walkoff fashion when Hutson singled to left field and Ethan Burgh scored the winning tally. 

The Knights recorded eight hits in the second leg of the doubleheader and Stubitz paced the team with three while Ridge added three RBIs. Darren Kilpatrick and Eybers were the pitchers for Wartburg and Eybers was given the loss.