Ohio Wesleyan 7, Denison 5
Denison 7, Ohio Wesleyan 5

April 5, 2005

Senior catcher Matt Strasburg (Oak Hill, Va./Oakton) drove in the go-ahead run and junior third baseman Sammy Hall (North Riverside, Ill./Nazareth Academy) lined a 2-run single to highlight a 5-run fifth inning that helped Ohio Wesleyan top Denison in the opener of a North Coast Athletic Conference West Division on Tuesday at Littick Field.

Hall had 5 RBI in the nightcap, but Denison broke a 5-5 tie with a pair of runs in the sixth and held on to salvage a split of the twinbill.

The Big Red took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of the opener when A.J. Jezierski singled with one out, moved to third on Chris Rios' 2-out single and scored on a passed ball.

Junior shortstop Brandon Williams (Dublin/Coffman) slammed a solo homer in the bottom of the inning to even the game at 1-1.

In the top of the second, Denison loaded the bases with nobody out on a walk to Brian Mulcahy, a single by Justin Dedman and a bunt single by Tripp Dudley. Freshman righthander Xander Jones (Pomfret, Conn./Pomfret School) got Andrew Pakla to bounce into a force play, with the Bishops cutting down Mulcahy at the plate for the first out, and struck out Chris Day for the second out, but Jezierski was able to beat out a grounder up the middle to plate the go-ahead run.

Sophomore second baseman Kyle Sherman (Plain City/Dublin Scioto) tied the game at 2-2 with a solo homer in the bottom of the third.

Ohio Wesleyan took the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore outfielder Sean Ring (Hilliard/Davidson) led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice by freshman outfielder Brent Wilkins (Fairview Park/Fairview). Sherman was intentionally walked and Williams walked to load the bases before Strasburg drew a walk to force in Ring with the go-ahead run. Junior outfielder Adam Toney (Galloway/Westland) then beat out an infield chopper to Mulcahy at third base, with Sherman scoring on the play. Hall followed with a rope down the leftfield line, scoring Williams and Strasburg. After a double steal, freshman first baseman A.J. Dote grounded to short. Denison's Day looked the runner back from third, then looked to first, then threw to second where the Big Red appeared to have a play on Hall getting back to the bag. When Toney broke for the plate, second baseman Pakla fired home, but his throw hit Denison pitcher James Clear, with Toney scoring on the play.

Denison rallied in the top of the seventh as Jezierski led off with a walk and Drew Shamrock followed with a single. Jones bounced back to retire Chris Rios on a popup and got Lee Fischer on an infield out, but Tim LaBolt hit a pinch-hit homer to make it 7-5. Junior righthander Adam Dunn (Westerville/Worthington Christian) came on to retire Dedman for the final out, earning his first save of the season.

Jones was the winning pitcher, scattering 8 hits and striking out 5 during the first 6.2 innings. J.D. Wyborny was the starting and losing pitcher for Denison.

In the nightcap, the Big Red took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Day reached on a throwing error by Williams, stole second, moved to third on a ground out and scored on a ground out.

The Bishops stormed back in the bottom of the inning when Williams and Strasburg walked and Toney singled to load the bases before Hall cleared them off with a grand slam to left.

Ohio Wesleyan added a run in the third when Toney singled with one out, stole second and scored on Hall's RBI single.

Denison tied the game in the fourth, loading the bases with one out. Shamrock then sent a fly ball to center, scoring Mulcahy, before Fischer cleared the bases with a homer to right.

Mulcahy put the Big Red ahead with a 2-out solo homer in the sixth, and the Big Red added an insurance run on Day's RBI double.

Ohio Wesleyan threatened in the bottom of the seventh as freshman outfielder Josh Wheeler (Columbus/Dublin Scioto) and Sherman opened the inning with singles, bringing the winning run to the plate, but Denison pitcher Troy Testerman got Williams to foul out, struck out Strasburg and retired Toney on a fly out to finish off the complete game.

Sherman, Toney and Hall had 2 hits apiece for the Bishops. Ring was the losing pitcher in relief, allowing the 2 sixth-inning runs. Dunn pitched the first 5.0 innings, allowing 6 hits and 5 runs, and junior righthander Jason Whitcomb (Wauseon) pitched a scoreless seventh.

Testerman allowed 7 hits and struck out 7 in working the complete game for Denison.

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