DELAWARE, Ohio – The Ohio Wesleyan University baseball team welcomed the University of Olivet on Saturday for a doubleheader, aiming to bounce back from a tough loss in their home-opener on Thursday. The Battling Bishops dropped the first game 3-1 after a quiet offensive showing, but quickly rebounded in game two. The offense pushed six runs across in the first two frames to secure a comfortable 6-2 victory over the Comets.
With the split, Ohio Wesleyan shifts to 7-8 on the season, while Olivet improves to 8-5.
GAME ONE: OHIO WESLEYAN 1, OLIVET 3
After a scoreless first from both sides, Olivet struck in the second inning. A hit-by-pitch and single put runners on first and second with just one away. The next batter ripped a single to left field to give the Comets a 1-0 advantage. Starter
Zane Vitense sat down the next batter, and appeared to be on the verge of escaping the jam. However, Olivet's Tyler Duncan found a hole in the defense to bring another run across for the Comets.
In the fifth inning, Olivet extended its advantage by pushing another run across on consecutive two-out base hits. The Red and Black finally found their groove in the sixth.
Marcus Suwinski led off the inning with a base knock, followed by a
Luke Johnson single two batters later. With two on and one away,
Michael Malone laid down a picture-perfect bunt that forced a rushed, errant throw from the pitcher, allowing Suwinski to cross the plate and put the Bishops on the board.
With their backs against the wall in the ninth inning, the Bishops sparked a late rally, putting two runners aboard courtesy of a walk and a
Nik Hilton single. However, the rally stalled after a Bishop tried to advance to third on a wild pitch but was thrown out to end the game.
Vitense (L, 1-2) got the start on the bump, going six innings and punching out five.
Nathan Hurley was the first out of the pen, tossing 2.1 hitless innings and striking out three.
Nate Cory finished the game, pitching 0.2 innings and punching out one.
The Bishops logged just four hits in game one.
Nik Hilton,
Luke Johnson,
Colton Moone and
Marcus Suwinski all recorded one hit. Moone and Hilton finished 1-for-4, while Johnson and Suwinski went 1-for-3. Suwinski also scored the Bishops' lone run.
Alex Snyder drew two walks.
Malone tallied one RBI.
GAME TWO: OHIO WESLEYAN 6, OLIVET 2
Ohio Wesleyan's offensive struggles dissolved early in game two.
Colton Moone started the rally with a single through the right side.
Alex Snyder was then hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second with one away. Next up was
Marcus Suwinski, who has emerged as one of the Bishops' most dangerous sluggers in his debut season. He promptly smoked a ball into right-center, bringing both Moone and Snyder home to give OWU an early 2-0 advantage.
In the second inning, a clutch two-out rally propelled the Bishops to a comfortable lead.
Josh Bercaw started the party with a single up the middle.
Michael Malone followed it up with a single to right field, and the rally was fully underway. Moone then ripped a double into the right-center gap, driving in both Bercaw and Malone. Snyder got in on the action next, roping a double down the left field line to bring Moone home.
Zane Vitense capped off the rally with a double to right field, allowing Snyder to score and give Ohio Wesleyan a 6-0 lead.
After five quiet innings from both sides, the Comets led off the eighth inning with a solo shot to left field to make it 6-1. Olivet sparked a two-out rally of their own in the top of the ninth, as a pair of singles brought another runner home. However,
Hank Holman slammed the door shut, forcing a flyout to cap off three excellent relief innings from the senior reliever. Ohio Wesleyan secured a 6-2 victory over Olivet in game two, salvaging a split for the afternoon.
Parker Tomlin (W, 2-0) pitched an absolute gem, holding the Comets to just three hits over six scoreless innings while racking up seven strikeouts.
Hank Holman secured the save, tossing the final three innings.
The Bishops finished game two with 13 hits, including four doubles.
Moone led the attack, going 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Bercaw finished 3-for-4 in the nightcap and came around to score once.
Malone went 2-for-5 and scored once.
After pitching six innings in game one, Vitense showcased his elite two-way ability with a 2-for-4 performance in game two. He added one RBI.
Suwinski finished 2-for-4 and tallied two RBI.
Snyder had one hit, going 1-for-4 while tacking on two runs scored and one RBI.
UP NEXT
The Bishops and Comets will square off for the series finale tomorrow, with first pitch set for noon at Littick Field.
