NEW CONCORD, Ohio -- The Baldwin Wallace University baseball team split an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader against Muskingum University today. The Yellow Jackets defeated the Fighting Muskies in the first game, 10-8, but lost in the nightcap, 7-6, after 11 innings.
With the split, BW is now 20-14 overall and 9-7 in the OAC with two games left to play during the OAC regular schedule. Muskingum is 15-17 overall and 7-9 in the OAC.
In the first game, the Yellow Jackets came back from an 8-5 deficit after seven innings of play to secure the win against the Fighting Muskies.
BW grabbed an early 1-0 lead with a run in the top of the first inning and then tacked on two more in the fourth to grab the 3-0 advantage. Muskingum cut into the Yellow Jacket lead with two runs of their own in the sixth frame to make the score 3-2. BW responded with two runs in the top half of the seventh to lead the game, 5-2, but the Fighting Muskies responded with six runs in the bottom half of the seventh to take their first lead of the game, 8-5. The Yellow Jackets responded to Muskingum's comeback with two runs in the eighth inning to cut the deficit to 8-7 and then scored three runs in the ninth inning to take the lead and win the game, 10-8.
At the plate for BW, junior All-OAC first baseman Kyle Chontos (Pickerington/North) led the way and was 3-for-4 with a run batted-in (RBI) and three runs scored. Senior catcher Joe Hiller (Twinsburg) went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored. Sophomore All-OAC second baseman Mark Zimmerman (Akron/ Green) and junior shortstop Eric Murphy (Brook Park/Midpark) each contributed with two hits.
On the mound for the Yellow Jackets, sophomore right-handed pitcher Alex Albright (North Royalton) started his ninth game of the season and pitched the first five innings but received a no-decision. He allowed two runs (none of which were earned), five hits, struck out seven and walked three Muskingum batters. In relief, sophomore right-hander Brandon Cichocki (Wallad Lake, Mich./Central) contributed one and two-thirds innings of work and allowed six runs (one earned) and four hits on two strikeouts and one walk. Following Cichocki, senior righty Cory Waite (Willoughby/South) faced two batters, but did manage to record an out, on no earned runs, one hit and one walk. To finish the game for BW, senior right-handed pitcher Jon Capadona (North Royalton) pitched the final two and one-thirds innings and gave up no runs on one hit and earned his third win of the season to improve his record to 3-2.
In the nightcap, the Fighting Muskies defeated the Yellow Jackets in 11 innings. To begin the game, each team scored two runs in the first inning. In the second inning, BW took the advantage, 3-2, with a scored run. The Yellow Jacket scored two more runs in the top half of the fifth inning to push their lead to three runs until Muskingum scored three runs of their own in the bottom half of the fifth to tie the game, 5-5. In the sixth frame, the Fighting Muskies tallied a run to take their first lead of the game, 6-5. BW capitalized on their final opportunity to tie the game with a run in the ninth inning to make the score 6-6. Neither team scored until the bottom of the eleventh, when Muskingum won the game on a walk, 7-6.
At the plate for BW, sophomore first baseman Hunter Handel (Akron/Green) led the offense going 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Also, senior third baseman Brad Gugliotta (Twinsburg) and Zimmerman each had two base hits for the Yellow Jackets.
On the mound for the Yellow Jackets, Capadona received his seventh start of the season and pitched one inning giving up two runs (all earned) on four hits. In relief, Waite contributed four and one-thirds innings of work and gave up four runs (three earned) on seven hits, two strikeouts and two walks. Following Waite, senior left-handed pitcher Cory Durbin (Canton/GlenOak) pitched the next three innings and gave up no runs on two hits. To finish the game, Cichocki threw the final two and one-thirds innings and gave up one run (earned) on two hits, two strikeouts and three walks. He was credited with the loss and now falls to a 2-2 record on the season.
BW is back in action on Monday, April 28 when it hosts Denison University in a non-league game at 5:00 p.m. at Heritage Field. The next day, the Yellow Jackets visit traditional rival Hiram College for a single game at 4:30 p.m. Next Friday, May 2, BW hosts Capital University in its final OAC doubleheader at 1:00 p.m. in Berea and then ends the regular season on Sunday, May 3 with a twinbill versus non-league foe Pitt-Bradford at 1:00 p.m.
FOR MORE BW SPORTS INFORMATION, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu or Assistant SID Jeff Miller by phone at 440-826-2780 and email at jefmille@bw.edu. Fans can access the latest BW athletics information at www.bwyellowjackets.com and we invite you to join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwyellowjackets and Twitter at http://twitter.com/bwathletics.
