Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Ohio Wesleyan 7, Denison 4
Denison 8, Ohio Wesleyan 3

Senior outfielder Edrick Padilla (Salinas, P.R./Perkiomen (Pa.) School) crushed a 3-run homer to drive in what proved to be the deciding runs as Ohio Wesleyan defeated second-ranked Denison in the opener of a North Coast Athletic Conference doubleheader on Tuesday in Granville.

In the nightcap, junior outfielder Sammy Stoner (Dublin/Jerome) manufactured a run to even the score at 3, but Denison scored the final 5 runs of the game to salvage a split.

Trailing, 1-0, in the opener, the Bishops struck for 3 runs in the top of the second, loading the bases as senior first baseman Dillon Ysseldyke (Hilliard/Bradley) was hit by a pitch, and Padilla and sophomore first baseman Zane Vitense (Maple Grove, Minn.) followed with singles.  Sophomore outfielder Matt Spencer (Hilliard/Darby) plated a run with an infield out, and senior catcher Tyler Monaco (Centerville/South Mecklenburg (N.C.)) singled to score Padilla and Vitense.

The Big Red closed to within 3-2 in the bottom of the second as Jack Steel scored on the front end of a double steal, but once again, the Bishops responded with 3 runs.  Junior second baseman Ryan Duckworth (Hilliard/Bradley) lined a 2-out triple, Ysseldyke was hit by a pitch, and Padilla sent a ball over the fence in right center to give Ohio Wesleyan a 6-2 lead.

Fifth-year shortstop D.J. Neff (Grove City) doubled in a run in the fourth to make it 7-2, and the hosts added single runs in the fifth and seventh frames.

The Bishop win snapped Denison's NCAC winning streak of 24 games dating back to the 2022 season.  Duckworth and Padilla each went 2-for-4 for Ohio Wesleyan.  Freshman righthander Jacob Lowery (Lyndhurst/Gilmour Academy) scattered 7 hits over the first 5.0 innings to record the win, and sophomore righthander Mikey Olivieri (Jackson Township/Jackson) worked a scoreless ninth to record a save.

The Big Red pushed across 3 runs in the first inning of the nightcap with the help of an RBI double by Noah Leib and a run-scoring single by Owen Wilson.

Ohio Wesleyan closed to within 3-2 as sophomore catcher Alex Snyder (Massillon/Jackson) led off the top of the second with a single, Vitense doubled, and freshman third baseman Luke Johnson (Cincinnati/Batavia West Clermont) singled home both runners.

In the third, Stoner reached base on an error by Big Red catcher Colin Ravin after a strikeout, stole second, moved to third on a fly ball, and scored on a passed ball.

Denison took the lead as Leib doubled and scored in the third, then added 2 more runs in the inning, and Alex Vasquez and Leib added RBI singles in the fifth and eighth.

Vitense was 3-for-4 for Ohio Wesleyan.  Senior righthander Andy Anthony (Delaware/Buckeye Valley) was the starting and losing pitcher for Ohio Wesleyan.

Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2