The 23rd-ranked College of Wooster baseball team returned to action with a wild 1-0 walk-off win, and then the Fighting Scots ran away from Ohio Wesleyan University 18-1 in game two on Saturday afternoon at Art Murray Field.
As fate would have it in game one, senior second baseman Gabe Sherman led off the bottom of the eighth inning after making a spectacular play up the middle on C.J. Colson's grounder to end the top of the frame. The business economics major and Colson squared off again with Sherman depositing a leadoff single over the Battling Bishops' (0-2) shortstop's outstretched glove. Next, junior Ben Hines laid down the walk-off sacrifice bunt-turned-error. Ohio Wesleyan reliver Andy Anthony originally looked to retire Sherman at second, then ultimately uncorked a wild throw in an attempt to retire Hines at first. That errant throw enabled Sherman to motor all the way around the bases for the winning run.
Senior Evan Faxon (1-0) fired the three-hit shutout while striking out six. The left-hander had four one-two-three innings and only allowed one Battling Bishop to reach third base. The Scots' ace received help from his defense, with junior Tyler Chumita, Sherman, and sophomore Dane Camphausen turning an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play after OWU's Davis Graham reached on a one-out single in the fourth. In the fifth inning, junior Michael Thomas picked up an inning-ending unassisted double play, as the Scots' (2-0) backstop was interfered with while trying to throw out Luigi Russo, who was trying to steal second base as Colin Spranger waved through Faxon's 1-2 offering.
Wooster had a prime chance to strike in the first inning with Chumita's infield single, junior Ben Gbur's walk, and junior Alex Gasper's walk loading the bases. Ohio Wesleyan's Ethan Soderna snuffed out the threat by striking out Camphausen and inducing an inning-ending ground out.
Soderna was in control through 5 1/3 innings of work. The Bishops' ace allowed one hit while striking out 10.
Hits were even at three apiece in game one. Chumita had two of the Scots' base knocks.
Of note, the 1-0 win marked the first 1-0 final score in a game Wooster's played in at Art Murray Field since the Scots lost 1-0 against Wittenberg University on April 22, 1978.
Ohio Wesleyan's D.J. Neff staked the Bishops to a 1-0 lead with a third-inning round-tripper in the nightcap, but it was all Wooster come the fourth inning, as the Scots put on an offensive performance fans have become accustomed to over the years at the very hitter-friendly home confines.
While Wooster did finish with 10 timely hits, the Scots benefitted from Ohio Wesleyan's wildness and key defensive miscues. The Scots took charge with a six-run fourth, despite just four hits in the frame. Hines got the big inning started with a base knock up the middle, and that marked Wooster's first hit of the nightcap. Back-to-back errors scored Hines, who tied the game at one. Two batters later, Camphausen reached on an infield single with Chumita scoring on the play.
Later in the fourth, Thomas drew a bases-loaded walk, junior Dominic Stilliana's two-run two-bagger fell just inside the line in the left field corner, and sophomore Dean Brown plated the Scots' catcher via a sacrifice fly.
Wooster's big sticks headlined a two-run fifth inning with Chumita doubling to left and Gbur logging the Scots' first triple of the season. Gasper followed that up with a third consecutive hit, and at that point, Wooster broke the game open at 8-1.
A 10-spot followed in the sixth inning, where Wooster got the job done the little ways, thanks to four free passes, four plunked hitters, and two wild pitches. Freshman Eli Westrick capped the inning with a three-run triple to the right-center gap on the very first collegiate pitch he saw.
Senior Jay DiBacco (1-0) collected the win. He allowed one run on four hits while striking out three in five innings of work. Junior Colin Springer and senior Steve Spidell each fired a scoreless inning of relief. Of note, the quartet of Scots who pitched on the day held the Bishops to seven hits in 15 innings.
Jason Monos (0-1) took the loss. He allowed six runs (three earned) on four hits in four innings.
Wooster's 10 hits were spread out among nine players, with Gasper being the lone player in game two to log a multi-hit game. Westrick's three RBI led the way, while Camphausen, Stilliana, and Thomas had two apiece.
Wooster and Ohio Wesleyan meet again on Sunday at Littick Field in Delaware, Ohio. First pitch of the seven-inning doubleheader is set for 1 p.m.