DAVENPORT, Fla. - Illinois Wesleyan University head baseball coach Dennis Martel recorded his 900th career win, all of which have come at the helm of the Titans, Saturday, March 16, as IWU run-ruled the University of Minnesota Morris, 11-1, in seven innings. The Titans improved to 9-4 on the year with the victory, while UMM fell to 5-9.
With his monumental victory, Martel became the 16th baseball coach in Division III history to secure 900 wins in a career. He is one of just 12 to record all of his wins at one school.
The game stood scoreless through three and a half innings, at which point the IWU bats awoke.
Sophomore Jack Flagg (River Forest, Ill.-Oak Park River Forest) started Illinois Wesleyan off with a two-bagger. Freshman John Philip Ferraro (Oak Park, Ill.-Oak Park River Forest) followed with the first home run of his collegiate career to push the Green and White ahead.
The inning continued as freshman Michael Stupavsky (Quincy, Ill.-Quincy Notre Dame) walked and with a sacrifice bunt moved into scoring position. Sophomore Tommy Willard (Downers Grove, Ill.-Downers Grove South) hit one straight up the middle to run Stupavsky home, boosting the lead to 3-0.
In the bottom of the fifth, Flagg hit his second two-bagger of the game. Stupavsky's two-out single brought Flagg in from second, extending IWU's lead to four.
The Titans capitalized on errors by the Cougar defense to stretch their lead in the bottom of the sixth. After a miscue brought in one run, senior Jacob Cyrus (Glen Ellyn, Ill.-Glenbard South) singled to load the bases for Ferraro, who smacked an RBI single to left-center. A hit batter and a bases-loaded walk brought in two more runs, before Willard and Stupavsky closed out the scoring. Willard singled to bring home IWU's 10th run of the morning and Stupavsky stole home to drive the Titans ahead, 11-0.
The Cougars scored one in the bottom of the seventh, but Cole Shamhart (Oak Park, Ill.-Oak Park River Forest) closed the game with a strikeout to finish off the run-rule victory.
Shamhart threw all seven innings, allowing four hits and striking out seven. He jumped to 4-0 on the season.
For the 12th time in 13 games, Illinois Wesleyan registered double-digit hits. IWU cranked out 13 in the win over UMM, with Willard leading the way with a 4-for-4 performance. He added two RBIs and a run, while Ferraro topped the team with three driven in. Ferraro finished 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Cyrus and Flagg added two hits apiece.
With spring break complete, the Titans are set to play their first home game Saturday, March 23, against Wabash University. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. at Horenberger Field.