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Otterbein 7, Ohio Wesleyan 5
March 4, 2009
Freshman second baseman James DiBiasio (Westlake) doubled and scored on a single by sophomore outfielder Zach Frentsos (Delaware/Hayes) as Ohio Wesleyan jumped to a 1-0 first-inning lead, but Otterbein rallied for 5 runs in the third and fourth innings and held on to defeat the Bishops in the season opener for both teams on Wednesday in Chillicothe.
DiBiasio opened his college career with a leadoff double in the first, and Frentsos followed with a single for a 1-0 Bishop lead. The Ohio Wesleyan rally ended there, however, as Otterbein starter Seth Winegar bounced back to retire the next 2 hitters and pick Frentsos off first base to end the inning.
Senior righthander Greg Vasami (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Rye Neck) retired the first 6 batters he faced but yielded 2 runs in the third on doubles by John Quimby, Kyle Stoughton, and John Sansbury. The Cardinals tacked on 3 more runs in the fourth on Quimby's 2-run triple and an RBI single by Stoughton.
Ohio Wesleyan closed to within 5-2 in the fifth when senior third baseman Eric McComas (Beverly Hills, Mich./Birmingham Groves) doubled, sophomore outfielder Eric Livingston (Delaware/Hayes) singled, and McComas scored on the front end of a double steal, but Otterbein got that run back in the bottom of the frame on Adam Becker's RBI double.
The Bishops rallied in the seventh, with freshman first baseman Tim Knezovich (Columbus/Briggs), McComas, and Livingston opening the inning with consecutive singles to load the bases. Sophomore outfielder Scott Wise (Delaware/Hayes) struck out for the first out, but DiBiasio followed with a single to make it a 6-3 game, and Frentsos plated McComas with an infield out to bring the Bishops within 6-4.
McComas singled home Knezovich in the top of the eighth to cut the deficit to 6-5, but Corey White came on for Otterbein and struck out sophomore outfielder Jared Turner (Versailles) to end the threat, and the Cardinals added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth.
Ohio Wesleyan threatened in the ninth, getting a walk by DiBiasio and a single by Frentsos to put the tying run on base, White induced senior shortstop Logan Hronis (Rocky River/St. Edward) to line into a game-ending double play.
McComas and Livingston each had 3 hits for the Bishops, while Frentsos had 2 hits and 2 RBI and DiBiasio collected 2 hits.
Vasami, the first of 4 Ohio Wesleyan pitchers, was charged with the loss.
Sansbury and Quimby drove in 2 runs apiece for Otterbein.
Winegar, who pitched a pre-arranged 3-inning start, was credited with the win. White, who worked out of jams in the eighth and ninth innings, received a save.