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Wabash 9, Ohio Wesleyan 6
Ohio Wesleyan 11, Wabash 5
March 23, 2008
![[ Brent Wilkins ]](../images/wilkins.jpg)
Senior outfielder Brent Wilkins (Fairview Park/Fairview) put the Bishops on the scoreboard with a 2-run homer and later drove in the tying run, and senior second baseman Jerrell Johnson (Shaker Heights) knocked in the go-ahead run as Ohio Wesleyan defeated Wabash to salvage a split of a North Coast Athletic Conference West Division doubleheader on Sunday at Littick Field.
In the opener, the Little Giants jumped to an 8-0 lead and withstood an Ohio Wesleyan rally to take the win. The win was the third in the series for the Little Giants, giving Wabash its first series victory over Ohio Wesleyan since beginning NCAC play in the 2000 season.
Wabash took a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning of the nightcap when Little Giant first baseman Shaun Rico smacked a 3-run homer, his third circuit clout of the series, breaking up a pitchers' duel between sophomore righthander Matthew Struble (Defiance/Edon), who had fanned Wabash batters for 7 of the first 10 outs, and the Little Giants' Brian Van Duyn.
Ohio Wesleyan closed to within 3-2 in the bottom of the inning as freshman infielder Zach Frentsos (Delaware/Hayes) walked and Wilkins launched a home run to right center.
The Little Giants got those 2 runs back in the top of the fifth when Nathan Schrader was hit by a pitch, stole second, moved to third on a double by Bobby Ritz and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jake Thomas. Matt Dodaro followed with a single to score Ritz.
Senior lefthander Joey McDaniel (Dublin/Scioto) led off the bottom of the fifth with a single, junior shortstop Logan Hronis (Rocky River/St. Edward) was hit by a pitch and the runners moved to second and third on an infield out. Frentsos walked to load the bases before sophomore third baseman Eric McComas (Beverly Hills, Mich./Birmingham Groves) singled home McDaniel and Hronis to bring the Bishops within 5-4. Wilkins followed with single to score Frentsos with the tying run, and after sophomore catcher Steve Ruygrok (Centennial, Colo./Cherry Creek) walked to load the bases, Johnson grounded to third base, with McComas scoring to give the Bishops the lead.
Ohio Wesleyan put the game out of reach in the sixth, with McDaniel scoring on a wild pitch, McComas singling home an insurance run, and Ruygrok capping the inning with a 3-run homer.
Wilkins and Ruygrok each had 3 hits and 3 RBI for Ohio Wesleyan, while McComas had 2 hits and 3 RBI.
Struble pitched the first 5.0 innings, fanning 8 and walking 1, to pick up the mound decision. Senior righthander Nick Horn (Dublin/Scioto) pitched scoreless sixth and seventh innings to record his first save of the season.
Van Duyn was charged with the loss for Wabash.
In the opener, Dodaro's third-inning grand slam gave Wabash a 4-0 lead, and the Little Giants made it 8-0 in the fifth as Tanner Coggins hit a 2-run double and scored on Rico's 2-run homer.
Wabash starter Joey Niezer had retired the first 9 Bishop hitters and blanked Ohio Wesleyan on one hit through the first 4.0 innings but ran into trouble in the bottom of the fifth. Niezer hit sophomore outfielder Jared Turner (Versailles) to open the inning. One out later, Wilkins and freshman outfielder Scott Wise (Delaware/Hayes) singled to load the bases. Johnson was hit by a pitch, forcing home Turner, and McDaniel followed with a 2-run double. Hronis then legged out an infield single and continued to second on Rico's throwing error, scoring Johnson and McDaniel. After a single by senior first baseman A.J. Dote (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne), senior third baseman Nick Collinger (Columbus/Whetstone) plated Hronis with an infield out to bring Ohio Wesleyan within 8-6.
The Bishops threatened in the sixth, but Wabash escaped the inning and added an insurance run in the seventh on Joe Johnson's RBI single.
McDaniel was the starting and losing pitcher for Ohio Wesleyan.
Niezer got the win for Wabash, and Keegan Leckrone, who had gotten out of the fifth inning and worked scoreless sixth and seventh innings, was credited with a save.
