OWU Online | Sports Releases

Mount Vernon Nazarene 5, Ohio Wesleyan 4 (4/18/2002)

Mark Coulter was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning as Mount Vernon Nazarene came back from a 4-0, eighth-inning deficit and defeated Ohio Wesleyan in non-conference action on Thursday in Mount Vernon.

The Bishops had taken a 3-0 lead on a pair of homers by senior first baseman Drew Caravella (Columbus/Hilliard Davidson). Caravella blasted a 2-run bomb in the first and a solo shot in the fourth.

Ohio Wesleyan padded its lead to 4-0 on another Caravella long ball in the top of the eighth. With 2 out, sophomore second baseman Mike Albert (Shelby) singled and scored when Cougar centerfielder Steve Waers lost Caravella's long fly ball in the sun.

The Cougars, who had been held to 3 hits through the first 7 innings by sophomore righthander Tyler Mott (Grove City), clawed back in the bottom of the eighth. With 2 outs, Adam Rowe and Josh Sichina reached on infield singles. Matt Myers singled to center to score a run, and after an error by junior third baseman Matt Fortuna (Strongsville/St. Edward) loaded the bases, Scott Crawford plated 2 runs with a single to left.

Justin Clarey was hit by a pitch to lead off the Cougar ninth but was picked off first base for the first out. Eddie Wright followed with a single down the leftfield line, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on Rowe's single to right to send the game into extra innings.

In the bottom of the 10th, the Cougars loaded the bases on a single, a walk and an error by junior righthander Shaun Burchett (Plain City/Jonathan Alder) on a sacrifice bunt before the game-ending hit batsman.

Caravella went 3-for-5 with 3 RBI to fuel the Bishop offense. Senior outfielder Shaun Rice (Dublin/Columbus Watterson) and junior catcher Bo Burnett (Powell/Olentangy) had 2 hits apiece.

Burchett, the fourth Ohio Wesleyan pitcher, was charged with the loss. Lew Hilgenberg picked up the win for the Cougars.