CHILLICOTHE, Ohio – Following a doubleheader split on Friday, the Ohio Wesleyan University baseball team returned to action Saturday for a pair of rematches against Roosevelt and Ohio Christian. The Battling Bishops took a 6-0 lead in game one, but back-to-back three-run innings from Roosevelt fueled a comeback to rout OWU 8-7. Game two against Ohio Christian was halted in the eighth inning at 0-0 due to darkness. 

Ohio Wesleyan moves to 6-6.

GAME ONE: OHIO WESLEYAN 7, ROOSEVELT 8
Following two scoreless frames to open the contest, the Red and Black finally broke the deadlock to get on the board in the top of the third. With just one away, Luke Johnson ignited the rally with an infield hit. Drew Newman followed it up with a single to right field, advancing Johnson to third. Michael Malone continued to come through for the Bishops, this time ripping an RBI double to center field to bring Johnson home. 

In the top of the fourth, the floodgates officially opened for the Ohio Wesleyan offense. Two walks and an error loaded the bases with nobody out. A wild pitch advanced everyone one base, allowing Marcus Suwinski to score to give the Bishops a 2-0 advantage. The Lakers struck out back-to-back batters, and appeared to be on the verge of escaping the jam. However, Malone knocked in another with a two-out infield single. Next was Colton Moone, who drew a walk but ball four got away from the catcher, allowing Matt Spencer to tack on another for the Bishops. Alex Snyder got in on the action next, ripping a single to left field to bring Malone across. Suwinski capped off the five-run inning with an RBI-single to make it 6-0 in favor of the Bishops. 

Roosevelt got on the board in the sixth after back-to-back hits brought two runs across. A few batters later, Jack Hoh added another for the Lakers with a two-out RBI-single. In the bottom half of the seventh, three walks to leadoff the inning loaded the bases with nobody away. Ian Bagaconza then singled to right field to score two more, bringing Roosevelt within one. The Bishops made a pitching change, but an error allowed Maxwell Bowers to score, making things all square at 6-6. 

Entering the final two innings, both lineups hunted for a crucial hit to break through. Nate Coyler singled and came around to score to give the Bishops a 7-6 lead. The Lakers immediately punched back in the bottom half of the frame. Quinn O'Bryan sparked the rally with a single and eventually came around to score, knotting the game up once again.

Ohio Wesleyan advanced a runner to second base in the top of the ninth, but the squad was unable to push him across. In the bottom half, Tyler Ruete delivered a walk-off sacrifice fly to left field, handing the Red and Black a devastating 8-7 defeat.

Zane Vitense got the start on the bump, going five innings, while giving up just two hits and punching out five. Tyler Matthews was the first out of the bullpen, throwing 0.1 innings. Hank Holman was next, tossing 0.2 innings. J.J Earley (L, 0-1) pitched the final 2.1 innings. 

Coyler led the offensive charge, going 3-for-5 and scoring once. 

Malone finished 2-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored.

Suwinski went 2-for-4, had one RBI, scored once, and drew a walk. 

Snyder had one hit in four at-bats, tallying an RBI and a walk.

Newman finished 1-for-4 and drew a walk.

Henry Isaacs and Johnson both finished 1-for-5, and each scored a run.

Colton Moone tallied an RBI, a walk, and one run scored. 

Matt Spencer drew two walks and scored once. 

GAME TWO: SUSPENDED, BOTTOM 8TH, 0-0
Game two against Ohio Christian was suspended in the eighth inning with the score tied 0-0 due to darkness. A date to finish the game has not been finalized. Further updates will appear on the team's schedule page.

UP NEXT
As Ohio Wesleyan awaits scheduling updates regarding the Ohio Christian matchup, the team returns to action Wednesday to host Capital for its home opener. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m., with game two following at 4:00 p.m.