by Zak Orlemann '16

(WINTER HAVEN, Fla.) - The Thomas More College baseball team's bats came alive today in a game against preseason nationally ranked No. 21 Wartburg College.  The Saints came out with the victory scoring a whopping 20 runs, to Wartburg's 15.   The Saints improve to 2-2 (.500) on the season following their second consecutive victory over nationally ranked top-25 teams.

The game proved to be a battle of the bats with the Saints recording 23 hits, led by seniors Jason Handley (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) who went five-for-seven with two doubles and an run batted-in and Cody Makin (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) who also went five-for-seven, recording 4 RBIs along the way.

The Saints battled back and forth until the top of the ninth when Tyler Graber (Plain City, Ohio/Jonathan Alder) lined a single into right for two RBIs scoring sophomore Marcus Woelfel (Harrison, Ohio/Harrison) and junior Brad Popham (Edgewood, Ky./Dixie Heights).  Followed by one RBI each from sophomore Zach Fardo (Alexandria, Ky./Bishop Brossart) and freshman Tommy Arnzen (Edgewood Ky./Covington Catholic).  The Saints totaled five runs in the inning to take the 20-15 lead.

Sophomore reliever Chris Auer (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) received his second victory of the season, throwing .1 innings with one walk.  Senior pitcher Andy Roenker (Taylor Mill, Ky./Holy Cross) closed out the game, throwing one inning, retiring the side in order with two strikeouts. 

Other notables include junior Craig Hyson (Cincinnati, Ohio/McNicholas) (three-for-seven, three RBIs, two doubles), Fardo (one-for-four, three RBIs, double), and senior pitcher Jake Samad (Burlington, Ky./Conner) who threw 2.2 innings of relief, allowing no earned runs.

The Saints are set to return to action against nationally-ranked No. 11 Wheaton (Mass.) College at 10 a.m. in Winter Haven, Florida.