Ohio Wesleyan 8, Marietta 6

April 2, 2009

Junior catcher Steve Ruygrok (Centennial, Colo./Cherry Creek) put the Bishops on the scoreboard with an RBI single and delivered a 2-run single that plated what proved to be the winning runs as Ohio Wesleyan defeated 14th-ranked Marietta in non-conference action on Thursday at Littick Field.

The Bishops took a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Freshman second baseman James DiBiasio (Westlake) reached on an error by Pioneer shortstop Tim Saunders and sophomore outfielder Scott Wise (Delaware/Hayes) followed with a single. After sophomore outfielder Zach Frentsos (Delaware/Hayes) moved the runners over with a sacrifice, Ruygrok delivered a single to center to score DiBiasio and give the Bishops a 1-0 lead.

Wise then scored on a passed ball, with Ruygrok advancing to second, before senior shortstop Logan Hronis (Rocky River/St. Edward) doubled in Ruygrok for a 3-0 Bishop lead. Senior third baseman Eric McComas (Beverly Hills, Mich./Birmingham Groves) was hit by a pitch, and after the runners moved up on a wild pitch, freshman first baseman Tim Knezovich (Columbus/Briggs) sent a grounder to Marietta second baseman Tyler Penwell. Penwell misplayed the ball but recovered in time to get the batter, but his throw to first was wide, allowing Hronis and McComas to score.

Marietta came back with 3 runs in the top of the third. Brennan Cribbins opened the inning by reaching on an error by sophomore second baseman Josh Gardner (Youngstown/Boardman), and one out later, Matt DeSico singled Cribbins to second. Saunders forced DeSico at second for the second out, but Jordan Thompson followed with a single to score Cribbins, and after John Snyder was hit by a pitch, Justin Merryman singled in 2 runs to bring the Pioneers within 5-3.

DiBiasio led off the bottom of the second with his first collegiate home run, extending the Bishop lead to 6-3, but Pioneer reliever Nate Eschbaugh settled down after that, allowing just one more hit over the next 4.0 innings.

Meanwhile, the Pioneers cut the deficit to 6-5 in the third, with one run scoring on Penwell's double-play grounder, and the other on Thompson's RBI double.

Marietta threatened in the seventh, loading the bases with none down as Penwell walked, Josh Spicer reached when freshman lefthander Mitchell Monke (Springfield/North) threw wildly on a sacrifice bunt attempt, and Saunders walked. Sophomore lefthander J.R. Osborne (Chagrin Falls/University School) came on and retired Thompson on a line drive to rightfield before getting out of the inning unscathed when Snyder lined into an inning-ending double play.

The Bishops added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the inning, with DiBiasio leading off with a single and Wise following with a walk. Sophomore outfielder Zack Kaminski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) sacrificed the runners to second and third, and the move paid off when Ruygrok delivered a single through a drawn-in infield, scoring DiBiasio and Wise for an 8-5 Ohio Wesleyan lead.

Cribbins singled home a run in the eighth to bring the Pioneers within 8-6, but freshman righthander Robbie Shane (Hilliard/Bishop Ready) got the last out of the eighth and worked a scoreless ninth to post his first collegiate save.

Ruygrok was 2-for-4 with 3 RBI for the Bishops, while DiBiasio had 2 hits and scored 3 runs, and Hronis and McComas also had 2 hits apiece.

Freshman righthander Kevin Schindler (Mentor) was credited with the win, striking out 3 and allowing 3 hits and 3 unearned runs during his pre-arranged 2-inning start.

Dave Van Voorhees was the starting and losing pitcher for Marietta.

Box Score