DELAWARE, Ohio – The Ohio Wesleyan University baseball team hosted Wilmington on Tuesday afternoon at Littick Field. The Battling Bishops put up 13 hits in an 8-3 win to move to 9-11 on the season, dropping Wilmington to 0-19.

The Bishops started strong with three runs in the bottom of the first after holding the Quakers scoreless in the top half. Holden Tomlin started it off with a leadoff walk. Next, Colton Moone singled to right center, sending Tomlin to third. Tomlin came home for the game's first run on a Zane Vitense single to left. Moone was right behind as Matt Spencer doubled in the next at-bat, sending Moone home and Vitense to third. Vitense then scored on a fielding error by the shortstop during Michael Malone's at-bat.

The Red and Black tacked another on in the bottom of the second after a one-run top-half from Wilmington, making it 4-1 after two. Again, Tomlin got on, this time on a throwing error by the shortstop, successively advancing to third on a single by Moone before coming home to score on a single by Alex Snyder. The Quakers did end up drawing a run closer in the top of the next inning, making it 4-2 after three.

OWU would put up two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to go up 6-2 with Snyder and Vitense executing a double-steal and both coming around to score on multiple errors in the same play. Wilmington managed a one-run answer in the top of the sixth to make it 6-3.

Ohio Wesleyan ended up sealing the deal with two more insurance runs in the bottom of the eight, bringing the score to its final at 8-3. First, Colton Moone reached on a walk and was pinch-run for by Brody Miller. Next, Alex Snyder doubled to left to score Miller, advancing to third on the throw home. Finally, Vitense singled through the left side to score Snyder.

Hank Holman slammed the door with a three-up three-down top of the ninth to secure the win.

THE NUMBERS
Grant Castle got the start and pitched the first four innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts and one walk. Nathan Hurley (W, 2-1) was the first out of the bullpen, earning the win with two innings-pitched while allowing just one earned run on four hits with two strikeouts. Nate Cory pitched a hitless seventh inning with one walk. Hank Holman (S, 2) came in at 6-3 in the eighth and pitched two innings of two-hit baseball to seal the deal, earning his second save of the season.

Zane Vitense led the offense with a career-high four hits in five at-bats, driving in two and scoring two himself alongside a stolen base.

Alex Snyder was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, two runs scored, and a stolen base

Matt Spencer reached in 3-of-5 plate appearances, going 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, and an RBI.

Colton Moone managed to get on base in 3-of-5 plate appearances, going 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored.

Marcus Suwinski was 2-for-4.

Holden Tomlin walked once and scored two runs. 

Josh Bercaw went 1-for-4 with a double.

Michael Malone had an RBI.

UP NEXT
The Bishops are right back in action tomorrow at Ohio Northern. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.