DELAWARE, Ohio – The Ohio Wesleyan University baseball team opened its North Coast Athletic Conference slate on Saturday, hosting Wooster for a doubleheader. The Battling Bishops and Fighting Scots lived up to their namesakes in a thrilling series-opener that required extra frames. The Scots ultimately pushed across the deciding run in the tenth to escape with a 10-9 victory. Game two was all Wooster, as the Scots poured on the offense en route to a 15-2 run-rule victory over the Red and Black.

Ohio Wesleyan falls to 8-11 on the season, and 0-2 in NCAC competition. Wooster advances to 17-6 overall, and 2-0 in conference play. 

GAME ONE: OHIO WESLEYAN 9, WOOSTER 10
Wooster got on the board first in the opening frame after Ryan Kramer hit a two-out solo blast to left field. The Bishops were quick to respond in the bottom half, however. Back-to-back walks to lead off the inning set the stage for Alex Snyder, who tattooed a ball to left-center to make it a 3-1 game. After a scoreless second, the Scots tacked on three more in the top of the third to regain the lead at 4-3. That lead was short-lived however, as Matt Spencer ripped a two-out two-run double to right center, bringing home Colton Moone and Marcus Suwinski. Ohio Wesleyan led Wooster 5-4 after three.

In the fourth, the Scots utilized a pair of doubles to bring a run across, knotting things at 5-5. OWU created significant separation in the bottom half of the fourth. Michael Malone sparked the rally after getting hit by a pitch. Back-to-back singles from Austin Biggin and Zane Vitense allowed Malone to score. Suwinski was next, who roped a ball over the right fielder's head, bringing Biggin around to score. Wooster made a move to their bullpen, but a wild pitch from the reliever allowed Vitense to come home. Colton Moone capped off the four-run inning with a single to left field, plating Suwinski. After four innings, the Bishops led the Scots 9-5.

The Fighting Scots began their comeback in the sixth inning. Following a leadoff single, Noah Lindberg launched a two-run home run to cut the deficit to 9-7. After a quiet sixth and seventh from both offenses, Wooster nabbed another run in the eighth when a throwing error on a play at the plate allowed a runner to score. The Scots did it again in the ninth, as Colin Leslie grounded out to first base but not before Zack Barienbrock reached home safely. 

Ohio Wesleyan was unable to generate a run in the bottom of the ninth despite a leadoff single from Holden Tomlin. Bonus baseball was underway at Littick Field, with the Fighting Scots carrying all the late-game momentum into the extra frame. The Bishops recorded two quick outs in the top of the tenth, but a single from Maanav Bhatt ignited a two-out rally. The next batter drew a walk, which ultimately led to a Barienbrock RBI-single to right field. This proved to be the difference, as the Red and Black failed to get a runner in scoring position in the bottom half. The Bishops dropped game one, 10-9. 

Zane Vitense got the start, going four innings and striking out three. Nathan Hurley was the first reliever out of the bullpen, throwing 2.1 innings, allowing just two hits and punching out one. Hank Holman was next, tossing 2.2 innings and striking out one batter. Logan Schnell (L, 1-1) threw one inning of relief and struck out one. 

Moone led the offense with two hits, going 2-for-2, drawing three walks, along with one RBI and one run scored. 

Spencer finished 2-for-4 with two RBI.

Biggin went 2-for-5 in the opening game and came around to score twice. 

Snyder was 1-for-1 with his solo shot in the first inning, tacking on three RBI and one run scored.

Vitense went 1-for-3 with an RBI and run scored.

Suwinski had one hit in five appearances, along with two runs scored and one RBI.

Tomlin finished the game 1-for-1. 

Nik Hilton tallied one hit in the contest. 

Malone scored two runs. 

GAME TWO: OHIO WESLEYAN 2, WOOSTER 15
Game two was a different story for the Bishops. The squad struggled to get the bats going early, which was quickly compounded by a few big innings from the Scots. 

After a scoreless first, Wooster's offense exploded in the second inning. A walk followed by four straight hits quickly put the Scots ahead, 4-0. OWU's bats remained cold, with an Austin Biggin knock in the third marking just their second hit of the contest. Wooster rallied once again in the fourth, this time plating three runs on three hits to make it 7-0. In the top of the fifth, a hit-by-pitch put the leadoff runner on for the Scots. He wreaked havoc on the basepaths, swiping second and third before coming home on a throwing error to extend the lead.

The Scots carried an 8-0 advantage into the seventh, needing just two runs to spark the run rule. Wooster pieced together five hits, resulting in seven runs to take a commanding 15-0 lead over the Bishops. Ohio Wesleyan needed six runs in the bottom half to continue playing. A wild pitch brought Blake Petit across to give the Red and Black their first run in the nightcap. Brody Miller followed it up with a groundout to second base, but not before Jack Bates reached home safely, tacking on another run for the Bishops. However, the rally ended there, and Ohio Wesleyan fell to Wooster 15-2 in game two.  

Parker Tomlin got the nod in game two, going four innings and striking out two. Nate Cory threw one inning of relief. J.J. Earley was next, tossing 1.2 innings and fanning two. Cam McKenzie pitched the final 0.1 innings. 

The Bishops recorded just four hits in game two. 

Bates led the way, going 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Austin Biggin went 1-for-2.

Zane Vitense finished 1-for-3. 

Petit scored one run. 

UP NEXT
The Bishops return to the diamond on Tuesday, as they welcome Wilmington College to Littick Field at 4 p.m.