Sports, Saturday, April 3rd

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com 

We’re Back: Wesleyan Football Set to Debut Today at Greenville:

For the first time since 2019, the Iowa Wesleyan football team will be on the gridiron.

Today, under first year head coach M.D. Daniels, the Tigers will travel to Greenville University for a conference tilt set to kickoff at 1:00 p.m.

With it comes the the return of the “Air Raid” which was birthed at Iowa Wesleyan under Hal Mumme and Mike Leach.

Coordinating the aerial assault will be first year offensive coordinator Kiefer Price, a disciple of Mumme and a long time assistant under various “Air Raid” schemes.

Wesleyan, winless in 2019, will be looking to avenge a 21-0 loss against the Panthers that same season.

The Tigers have lost the last three meetings to Greenville, with the last win coming back on September 17th of 2016.

You can listen to today’s game on FM 105.5.

Nathan Bloechl and Hunter Davis will have the call beginning with the Tiger Tailgate Show at 12:45 p.m.

Kick off from Greenville University is set for 1:00 p.m.

College Baseball: Wesleyan Splits for Second Straight Day:

The Iowa Wesleyan baseball team split a two game twin-bill for the second straight day, beating Blackburn 14-1 in game one, while falling 11-7 in game two.

Nick Salas had a home run, his second of the year, in the first game to lead Wesleyan offensively. Five Tigers had doubles — including one from former Mount Pleasant standout Corbin Broeker — which was more than enough run support for terrific freshman hurler Luis Ayesa.

The first year from Venezuela worked all seven innings, scattering three hits, yielding just one run while fanning eight.

In game two, former Mediapolis prep Cauy Massner took the loss giving up six runs on seven hits over 3.2 innings.

Massner struck out one.

Wesleyan tried to rally late, scratching two runs across in the 7th inning, but could not get any closer.

Jack de Burgh had three hits and two runs batted in despite the loss.

Wesleyan, now 3-4, will be off until next Saturday when they take on Spalding University.

That game will be played in Louisville, Kentucky.

College Softball: Wesleyan Splits with Greenville:

The Iowa Wesleyan softball team picked up their first win of the season in a split of a doubleheader against Greenville yesterday at Mapleleaf Athletic Complex.

Former New London star Morgan Christner was saddled with the loss in game one, throwing a complete game however hemorrhaging six runs on six hits while striking out nine.

Christner, Kayla Ford, Alex Eyman, Jurnee Adams and Emilee Rooney each had hits for the Tigers, with Eyman’s and Adams’ going for extra bases.

In game two, former Danville ace Abby Dameron threw five innings of one run ball — allowing just two hits — as Wesleyan snuck out a 3-1 win.

Dameron yielded way to Christner who closed the door in the 6th and 7th innings to earn the save.

Christner also had a double, while Eyman, former New London Tiger Breanna Mettler and former Danville outfielder Ashley Pfadenhauer each had runs batted in.

Wesleyan improved to 1-4

Women’s College Basketball: Women’s Championship Set:

The NCAA Women’s Final Four was played yesterday in San Antonio and the national championship Sunday will feature Stanford and upset-minded Arizona.

The Cardinal picked up a 78-63 over the Cardinals of Louisville, while Arizona knocked off reigning Player of the Year Paige Bueckers and UCONN 69-59.

The national championship will be played Sunday at 5:00 p.m.

The men’s Final Four will be held in Indianapolis today with Baylor battling Houston and Gonzaga tangling with UCLA.