Wooster 6, Ohio Wesleyan 5

March 10, 2009

Sophomore outfielder Zach Frentsos (Delaware/Hayes) drove in 3 runs as Ohio Wesleyan erased a 5-1 deficit, but 14th-ranked Wooster pushed across what would prove to be the winning run in the bottom of the seventh to defeat the Bishops in non-conference action on Tuesday in Port Charlotte, Fla.

The Fighting Scots took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Luke Sutton lashed a one-out double, moved to third on a balk by sophomore righthander Eric Livingston (Delaware/Hayes), and scored on Stu Beath's infield out.

Ohio Wesleyan tied the game in the fourth as freshman second baseman James DiBiasio (Westlake) opened the inning by reaching on an error by Scot first baseman Colin Meinzer. Frentsos forced DiBiasio at second, and freshman outfielder Tim Knezovich (Columbus/Briggs) followed with a single to send Frentsos to third before junior catcher Steve Ruygrok (Centennial, Colo./Cherry Creek) lofted a fly ball to center to score the tying run.

Wooster answered in the bottom of the inning, opening the frame by loading the bases on singles by Beath and Matthew Johnson and an error on leftfielder Knezovich. Livingston induced an infield grounder from Matthew Pierce, with the Bishops cutting down the lead run at the plate, then fanned Shane Swearingen for the second out, but Meinzer atoned for his earlier error by launching a grand slam that gave the Fighting Scots a 5-1 lead.

The Bishops closed to within 5-4 in the sixth. Senior outfielder Matt Rhode (Port Clinton) led off with a walk and DiBiasio followed with a single before Frentsos tripled home both runners. Knezovich followed with a single to score Frentsos, and Ruygrok's single put the go-ahead run on base with nobody out, but Wooster starter Matt Miller came back to strike out senior shortstop Logan Hronis (Rocky River/St. Edward) and induce an inning-ending double play from senior third baseman Eric McComas (Beverly Hills, Mich./Birmingham Groves).

Rhode started off the Bishops' seventh-inning rally with a 2-out single, and after a DiBiasio single, Frentsos followed with a single to plate Rhode with the tying run.

Wooster responded in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases on one-out walks to John Warren and Sutton and a single by Karpen. Freshman righthander Andrew Cox (Ashville/Teays Valley) relieved Livingston and was greeted by Beath's fly ball to center, which scored Warren with the go-ahead run.

Hronis led off the Ohio Wesleyan eighth with a single but was stranded at second, and Frentsos kept the game going with a 2-out single in the ninth, but Wooster's Justin McDowell ended the game by striking out Knezovich.

Frentsos went 3-for-5 with 3 RBI, while DiBiasio and Knezovich each went 2-for-4 for the Bishops.

Livingston, who worked 6.1 innings, striking out 7 and walking 2, was charged with the loss.

Miller struck out 7 and walked 4 through 7.0 innings to collect the win for Wooster. McDowell, who pitched scoreless eighth and ninth innings, received a save.

Box Score