BECKLEY, WV — The IU Columbus baseball team traveled to Beckley, West Virginia this weekend for a River States Conference match-up against WVU Tech. In a thrilling series, IUC battled through a rollercoaster of performances, ultimately clinching a 2-1 victory in the three-game set. This win marked an important milestone for the team, as well for the program.
Game #1: IU Columbus Defeats WVU Tech 14-5 in Series Opener
IU Columbus exploded for 14 runs on 16 hits to claim a dominant 14-5 victory over WVU Tech in the opening game of the series on Saturday, March 8.
IU Columbus struck early, answering a first-inning sacrifice fly by WVU Tech with two runs in the second inning. John Codner led the charge with a double that brought in John Bloom, and Aiden Hapner added a sacrifice bunt to give the team a 2-1 lead. The game quickly grew in the visitors' favor as they put up five runs in the final three frames.
Carson McNulty had an impressive outing with two hits, including three RBIs, while Codner also shined with three RBIs and a solid performance at the plate. Bloom, who went 3-for-4, was a standout, scoring twice and stealing two bases. The team showed its ability to manufacture runs with timely hitting and aggressive baserunning.
IU Columbus' pitching staff was strong as well. Jack VonDielingen earned the win after pitching 5.1 innings, giving up just two runs on three hits while striking out five. Blake Nigg and Gavin Haltom combined for 3.2 innings to seal the win.
For WVU Tech, Broedy Boyce was a bright spot with two hits, while Logan Spurlock and Cody Cooper each drove in a run. However, the team's pitching staff struggled, as starter Braedan Pakkala allowed five earned runs over 4.2 innings, and relievers couldn't slow down the IU Columbus offense.
Game #2: WVU Tech Bounces Back, Dominates IU Columbus 17-4
WVU Tech bounced back with a vengeance in game two of the series, defeating IU Columbus 17-4 in a lopsided affair early afternoon on Sunday (Mar. 9).
The game was all WVU Tech from the start as they scored in each of the first five innings. The big blow came in the bottom of the eighth when the Golden Bears erupted for 10 runs. Hunter Fansler led the charge, driving in four runs, including a grand slam, while Broedy Boyce contributed a pair of RBIs. Cody Cooper and Logan Spurlock also added key RBIs to extend the lead.
For IU Columbus, the team managed just four runs, despite collecting six hits. The offense was highlighted by Jared Ross' two-run home run in the seventh inning. However, the pitching staff struggled, with Jackson Gilcrest taking the loss after allowing six runs in four innings. Drew Bradley, Brandon Broady, and Carson Smith were unable to keep the game in check, as they allowed an additional 11 runs to cross the plate in the final innings.
IU Columbus now looks to regroup and bounce back as they aim to avoid dropping the series in the final day and game of the weekend.
Game #3: IU Columbus Edges WVU Tech 4-2 in Series Finale
IU Columbus closed out the series with a 4-2 victory over WVU Tech on Sunday, March 9, bouncing back from their previous loss to win the series finale.
The game started with a strong offensive push from IU Columbus in the first inning. Cyrus Robinson's two-run homer gave IU Columbus an early 2-0 lead, and the team would add two more in the fifth. Carson McNulty singled in two RBIs to extend the lead to 4-2, which would prove to be enough.
Pitching was key for IU Columbus, as Brayden Furnish delivered an excellent outing, throwing seven solid innings, allowing only two runs on five hits and striking out seven. Furnish got the win, shutting down the WVU Tech offense and controlling the game from the mound.
For WVU Tech, the offense was limited to just two runs, with Michael Adams scoring on a wild pitch and William Gray driving in a run with a double in the first inning. Despite a solid pitching performances, WVU Tech could not generate enough offense to mount a comeback.
Looking Ahead
With their 4-2 win in the final game, IU Columbus not only claimed their first-ever series win in program history but also tied last season's conference win total. This historic achievement marks an exciting step forward for the program, showing that the team has the potential to compete at a high level. As they look ahead to the remainder of the season, IU Columbus will be eager to build on this success and continue developing their winning ways.
The Crimson Pride are back in action Tuesday, on their home field, where they will face non-conference opponent Grace College. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:00 PM.
