Sweeney pitches no-hitter in sweep

Joe Sweeney pitched the first no-hitter for Illinois Wesleyan in nine years. Illionois Wesleyan photo by Rebecca Sill

Junior righthander Joe Sweeney pitched a no-hitter as Illinois Wesleyan beat North Central, 8-0, in game two of a doubleheader sweep at Horenberger Field on Saturday, May 7. The Titans won the opener, 15-0, on a four-hitter by Jason Pankau and Eric McCullough.

Sweeney struck out eight and walked only three in tossing the first no-hitter for Illinois Wesleyan since Erik Zier pitched a seven-inning no-hitter against Wheaton on March 30, 2002.

Illinois Wesleyan (24-13, 14-6 CCIW) clinched a berth in the CCIW tournament. It is the seventh consecutive time the Titans have qualified for the CCIW tournament, 16th in the last 17 seasons and 24th overall since the tournament began in 1985.

Senior ace Jason Pankau threw six innings allowed no earned runs on three hits and struck out three in a winning effort for the Titans. Pankau improved to 6-2 in his last start of the regular season.

Pankau was backed with a comfortable lead when the Titans plated 11 runs on nine hits in the third inning. Freshman Johnathan Erickson and junior Kevin Sullivan each had a double and a single in the inning and Erickson, sophomore A.J. Nathan, sophomore Kevin Callahan and junior Mark McDermott all had two RBI.

IWU added two in the fifth and two in the sixth to end the game by the ten-run rule after seven innings.

Six Titans had multiple hits and five had multiple runs batted in during the victory.

Junior Eric McCullough pitched the last frame allowed one hit and struck out two.

In game one, Kevin Callahan drew two walks to tie the IWU single season record of 31 most recently achieved by Mike Morrissey last season.