Ohio Wesleyan 9, Baldwin-Wallace 1
Ohio Wesleyan 8, Baldwin-Wallace 4

March 24, 2009

Sophomore first baseman Tara VanVranken (North Canton/Massillon Jackson) and freshman catcher Nikka Bonamase (Canfield/Youngstown Ursuline) slammed 2-run homers during a 6-run fifth inning that broke the game open as Ohio Wesleyan defeated Baldwin-Wallace in the opener of a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday in Berea.

In the nightcap, junior first baseman Emily Bradley (Columbus/Upper Arlington) smashed a grand slam to cap a 7-run sixth inning that lifted the Bishops to a win and a sweep of the twinbill.

Ohio Wesleyan jumped to a 1-0 lead in the third inning of the opener on a leadoff homer by sophomore catcher Sarah Truchan (Westfield Center/Brunswick), but the Yellow Jackets tied the game on Tanya Davis's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning.

The Bishops took the lead for good in the fourth with the help of RBI singles by sophomore shortstop Kaylie Titus (East Hampton, N.Y.) and junior outfielder Krystle Skaziak (Dublin/Scioto) before breaking the game open in the fifth.

Junior outfielder Amanda Sanders (Lima/Bath) led off the frame with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice, and scored on VanVranken's home run, which chased Yellow Jacket starter Sarah Baker.

Titus greeted reliever Alyssa Brosious with a single, and Bonamase followed with a homer that increased the Bishop lead to 7-1. A walk to Truchan and consecutive singles by Skaziak, Bradley, and Sanders plated the final 2 runs.

Sanders, Titus, and Skaziak each had 2 hits for the Bishops.

Junior lefthander Rachel Seibel (Johnstown/Johnstown-Monroe) went the distance in the circle, allowing 4 hits and an unearned run. She struck out 3 and walked none.

The nightcap saw the Yellow Jackets take a 2-0 first-inning lead on RBI singles by Chelsea Saunders and Caitlin Myor.

Titus led off the fourth with a homer to get the Bishops on the scoreboard, but Baldwin-Wallace countered with another pair of runs in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead.

Freshman third baseman Ashley Allen (Richwood/North Union) and VanVranken opened the Bishop sixth with doubles, and one out later, Bonamase smashed another double to score VanVranken and bring Ohio Wesleyan within 4-3.

Truchan followed with a single to chase Baldwin-Wallace starter Mackenzie Rohrbacher, and junior second baseman Devon Walker (Baltimore/Watkins Memorial) singled home Bonamase with the tying run. A walk to Skaziak filled the sacks for Bradley, whose grand slam broke the 4-4 tie and put Ohio Wesleyan ahead to stay.

Bradley, Allen and VanVranken collected 2 hits apiece for Ohio Wesleyan.

Seibel started in the circle for Ohio Wesleyan and worked into the fifth inning. Freshman righthander Lauren McIntire (Marysville/Buckeye Valley) relieved in the fifth and was credited with the win, and freshman righthander Britt Rhea (Mount Vernon) worked a scoreless seventh.

Rohrbacher was charged with the loss for Baldwin-Wallace.

Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2