DANVILLE, Kentucky – The College of Wooster baseball team's pitching staff turned in two strong outings on opening day, as the Fighting Scots gave up just three runs in a Friday split with Centre College. Centre took game one 2-1, while Wooster bounced back for a 3-1 victory in the nightcap.
First-year Dame Frayne, sophomore Michael Scarpelli, junior Patrick Wiggins, and senior Alex Gerdenich scattered eight hits in the game-two win over a team that was a NCAA Div. III regional runner-up in 2024. In the opener, juniors Devin Anthony and Tahj Orona allowed just five hits.
Wooster (1-1) broke through in the fifth inning in the nightcap. First-year second baseman Maanav Bhatt doubled to left to open the inning and moved up to third on senior center fielder Leo Widtmann's ground out. Junior first baseman Ryan Kramer's RBI ground out plated the game's first run, and sophomore left fielder Andrew Kerr scored when senior shortstop Nick Pett reached on a Centre (1-1) error.
Bhatt's RBI single in the sixth made it 3-0. Sophomore third baseman Zack Barienbrock singled up the middle to start the inning and was replaced on the bases when senior designated hitter Bryn Langley reached on a fielder's choice. Gerdenich, playing right field at the time, sacrificed Langley into scoring position.
Centre (1-1) pulled within 3-1 on Forrest Day's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth inning. However, Scarpelli stranded a pair of Colonels in scoring position, as Ayden Lohr filed out to Widtmann in center.
In the eighth, Gerdenich took over on the mound and worked out of a bases-loaded jam to preserve the 3-1 lead. The senior right-hander nailed down the save with a one-two-three ninth inning. Scarpelli (1-0) was the winning pitcher, allowing a run in two innings of relief. Frayne fired four shutout innings in his collegiate debut, while Wiggins worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings in his Wooster debut.
Andrew Zimmerman (0-1) took the loss. He allowed three runs on four hits in three innings of relief.
In the opener, Gerdenich led off the eighth inning with a walk and stole second base. He scored when a Centre botched its try at an inning-ending double play. Following the error, Kramer walked and Pett was hit by a pitch, but Centre worked out of the bases-loaded jam.
Lohr's RBI double in the bottom of the fifth inning plated Day, who drew a one-out walk. Lohr scored when Ben Prather laced a single up the middle that made it 2-0.
Anthony allowed two runs on four hits in five innings of work in the opener. Orona fired three innings of shutout baseball in relief.
Harrison Cowdrey (1-0) struck out seven Wooster hitters in five shutout innings. Aidan Christmas worked a scoreless ninth for the save in the lid-lifter.
Bhatt went 2-for-4 to lead Wooster's offense. Kerr and Kramer both reached base safely three times. Kerr drew three walks over the two games.
Prather was 5-for-8 with a double and RBI on opening day to pace the Colonels.
Next, Wooster opens a three-game series at Covenant College (2-1) (Georgia) on Friday, Feb. 21. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. Wooster's scheduled games at Berea College this weekend have been canceled due to the weather in Kentucky on Saturday and Sunday.