GRANVILLE, Ohio – The Ohio Wesleyan University baseball team traveled to No. 1 Denison on Tuesday for a conference doubleheader. The Battling Bishops were ultimately outmatched in both contests, falling to the top-ranked team 15-0 and 9-0.
OWU drops to 13-23-1 overall, with a 2-11-1 mark in the NCAC. Denison improves to 35-1 on the season with a perfect 14-0 record in conference play.
GAME ONE: OHIO WESLEYAN 0, DENISON 15 (7 INN.)
Denison started the game with four runs on five hits in the bottom of the first inning. The Big Red added two more in the second to take an early 6-0 lead. Denison punched out the first eight Ohio Wesleyan batters.
After a scoreless third, the Big Red scored two more in the bottom half of the fourth.
Nate Colyer notched the Bishops' lone hit in the fifth, though he ended up stranded at first. Denison pushed seven runs across in the sixth to take a commanding 15-0 lead. OWU was unable to avoid the mercy rule, falling to the conference rivals in seven innings. Denison's Andrew Montero recorded 16 of his 21 outs via the strikeout.
Zane Vitense started game one, throwing one inning.
Nate Cory (L, 0-3) was the first reliever out of the bullpen, tossing 2.1 innings and striking out two batters.
J.J. Earley was next, pitching 1.2 innings. Tyler Matthews threw 0.1 innings and
Logan Schnell tossed 0.2 innings.
Colyer finished 1-for-3 with the Bishops' only hit.
GAME TWO: OHIO WESLEYAN 0, DENISON 9
Game two yielded similar results. Denison tallied one run in both the first and second innings to take a 2-0 lead. In the fourth, the Big Red strung together four hits to fuel a five-run inning, extending the lead to 7-0. Ohio Wesleyan had a runner in scoring position with one away in the top of the sixth, but an inning-ending double play snuffed the rally. In the bottom half, Denison padded its lead to 9-0 with a pair of runs. Both offenses went quiet over the final three frames as the Big Red cruised to a 9-0 victory in game two.
Marcus Suwinski (L, 1-1) got the nod in game two, going 1.2 innings.
Jacob Lowery threw 1.2 innings of relief and struck out two.
Hank Holman was next, also tossing 1.2 innings.
Cam McKenzie threw the final three innings, allowing just one hit and punching out two.
Josh Bercaw finished 1-for-2 and drew a walk.
Nate Coyler was 1-for-3 with a walk.
Michael Malone and
Alex Snyder each recorded one hit in four appearances.
UP NEXT
The Bishops conclude conference play and their home slate on Saturday when they take on No. 16 Wittenberg in a doubleheader. Game one is set for noon, with game two to follow.
