DELAWARE, Ohio – The Ohio Wesleyan University baseball team wrapped up their three-game set with Olivet on Sunday afternoon at Littick Field. The Battling Bishops secured the series win with a 10-9 victory in the three-hour 11-minute affair.

OWU improves to 8-8 on the year, already matching their win total from last season. Olivet topples to 8-6.

The Comets took the first swing of the game, scoring three in the top of the first for an early lead. Ohio Wesleyan would eventually tie it back up at 3-3 in the bottom of the second. First, the Red and Black loaded the bases on a single by Henry Isaacs and walks by Holden Tomlin and Josh Bercaw. Next, Isaacs came in to score on an Alex Snyder walk. Finally, Zane Vitense drove Tomlin and Bercaw in with a single through the left side.

The Battling Bishops tacked on six more in the next two innings to take a heavy 9-3 lead, scoring five in the third and one in the fourth. The third inning started similarly to the second with the Bishops loading the bases on two walks by Nik Hilton and Isaacs, and a single by Tomlin. Michael Malone then walked home Hilton. Finally, Snyder sent a grand slam – his third homer of the week – over the left field wall to score all four. More insurance came in the fourth when Marcus Suwinski worked his way on with a walk, before proceeding to get to third on a wild pitch and a balk, then finally scoring on another wild pitch.

The Comets mounted a monotonous comeback over the next four innings to make it a close game, scoring one in the fifth, three in the sixth, one in the seventh, and one in the eighth. This would have tied it at 9-9 had Bercaw not come around to score the ultimate deciding run for Ohio Wesleyan in the bottom of the seventh. After a single to left field, Bercaw advanced to third on two separate failed pickoff attempts, eventually scoring on a fielder's choice.

With the one-run lead in hand, the Bishops defense slammed the door with a three-up, three-down ninth to secure the 10-9 win.

THE NUMBERS
Grant Castle made the start and pitched the first four innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits and striking out two. Nate Cory (1.1 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 1 SO) and J.J. Earley (1.0 IP, 1 H, 3 BB) were the first two out of the bullpen. Logan Schnell (1-0) earned his first career win with 1.2 innings of work, allowing just two hits and one earned run with two strikeouts. Marcus Suwinski got the save, pitching a flawless ninth and striking out one.
Alex Snyder was 1-for-4 but made his one hit worth it with a grand slam – the first for the Bishops since 2024. He had five RBIs and reached once on a walk as well.

Zane Vitense went 3-for-5 with two RBIs.

Michael Malone walked twice and scored once with one RBI as well.

Nate Colyer had an RBI in his only at-bat.

Holden Tomlin and Josh Bercaw were both 1-for-2 with two runs scored.

Henry Isaacs was 1-for-3 with two walks and a run scored.

Colton Moone, Nik Hilton, and Suwinski scored one run each.

UP NEXT
The Bishops head off to Berea on Wednesday for a single game against Baldwin Wallace at 4 p.m.