RICHMOND, Ind. – Earlham College baseball improved to 8-0 on the season with its second doubleheader sweep over rival Wilmington College (Ohio) in as many days, posting 5-2 and 2-1 victories over Wilmington on Sunday at Sadler Stadium.
Unlike Saturday's slugfest-driven victories, Sunday's wins for Earlham came on the back of solid pitching performances and clutch hitting, including a walk-off triumph for the Maroon and White in Sunday's second game.
GAME 1
Earlham's three-run outburst in the sixth inning propelled the Maroon and White to the victory, with the Quaker runs crossing on three hits, an error, two stolen bases, and a wild pitch to take a 4-1 lead and break a 1-1 tie. An RBI double by Brian Pincura and a base hit by James Grace accounted for two of the Earlham runs, with Grace eventually crossing on a wild pitch.
The Maroon and White tacked on a single run in the eighth when Alec Bryan laid down a sacrifice bunt, allowing Pincura to score an insurance run. Pincura reached earlier in the frame on a base hit.
Starter Kyle Gorman fanned six Wilmington batters on his way to the win, improving his record to 2-0 on the season. He scattered seven hits and issued no walks over his 7.0 innings of work. Spencer Owen came on in the ninth to pick up his second save of the season.
Earlham amassed 10 hits in the contest, led by Marc Gendreau, Pincura, and Grace with two hits each.
Wilmington finished with seven hits, with no batter recording more than one hit. Starter Matt Oney yielded four runs, three earned, in 5.2 innings on his way to the loss for the Ohio Quakers.
GAME 2
Anthony Morgan's single into center field in the bottom of the ninth allowed Addison Robertson to score from second, lifting Earlham to the 2-1 walk-off win over Wilmington.
Robertson drew a one-out walk in the ninth to get aboard, and advanced to second on Ian Bach's ground to shortstop.
Earlham got on the board in the third inning when Grace crossed for an unearned run after reaching on a bunt single.
Wilmington knotted things up at 1-1 in the sixth when Josh Chua's two-out single plated Joey Allinder.
Joey Gerbus pitched 6.0 innings of one-hit ball with three strikeouts in the no-decision start, with Spencer Owen eventually picking up the win after recording the final out in the top of the ninth inning.
Wilmington reliever Bryant McCarty was tagged with the loss after yielding the game-winning run on the only hit he allowed.
Earlham continues its season-opening home stand on Saturday, March 10, when the Quakers host Kalamazoo College in a doubleheader. First pitch of game one is slated for 3:00 p.m.
For more information about Earlham baseball, visit the online home of Earlham College athletics at www.GoEarlham.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Earlham athletics news by following Earlham Quakers on Facebook (Earlham Quakers Athletics), Twitter (@EarlhamQuakers), and Instagram (EarlhamQuakers).