ADA, Ohio -- The Baldwin Wallace University baseball team split an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader at Ohio Northern University at Herb Strayer Field. The Yellow Jackets won the first game, 5-4, but lost the nightcap, 6-3
With its split, BW is 18-11 overall and 7-5 in the OAC. With its split, ONU is 20-8 overall and 7-5 in the OAC.
In the first game, the Yellow Jackets came back from deficits of 1-0, 3-2 and 4-3 to earn theit fourth straight win. ONU grabbed a 1-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the second before BW responded with two in the third to lead 2-1. ONU regained the lead at 3-2 with a pair of runs in the sixth and the Jackets tied it at 3-3 with one of their own in the top of the seventh. After the Bears grabbed a 4-3 advantage with a tally in the bottom of the seventh, BW scored once each in the eighth and ninth to tie it and gain the lead and win.
At the plate for BW, senior catcher Joe Hiller (Twinsburg) led the way and was 3-for-5 with the game-winning run batted-in (RBI) in the ninth. Senior All-OAC and Academic All-OAC third baseman Brad Gugliotta (Twinsburg) was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, sophomore All-OAC second baseman Mark Zimmerman (Akron/ Green) and sophomore designated hitter Hunter Handel (Akron/ Green) each were 2-for-4, and junior All-OAC first baseman Kyle Chontos (Pickerington/ North) was 1-for-5 with a two-run homerun in the third.
On the mound, ssenior Cory Durbin (Canton/ GlenOak) started and pitched the first six and one-third innings but received a no-decision. He allowed six hits, four runs (all earned), struck out four ONU batters and walked three, but left with BW training 4-3. Sophomore "stopper" Brandon Cichocki (Walled Lake, Mich./ Central) pitched the final two and two-third innings and earned his second win of the season and improved to 2-1 overall. He allowed two hits, no runs and struck out four.
In the second game, the Yellow Jackets jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a run in the top of the first inning and ONU tied it at 1-1 with a run of its own in the bottom of the third. BW gained a 3-1 lead with a pair of tallies in the fourth but again the Polar Bears evened the game at 3-3 with two of their own in the bottom of the frame. ONU grabed a 6-3 lead with two runs in the sixth and another in the seventh.
At the plate, BW had five base hits as Gugliotta, Chontos, Handel, junior shortstop Eric Murphy (Brook Park/ Middleburg Heights Midpark) and sophomore pinch hitter Jerry Scholle (Medina/ Highland) each had a safety. Handel scored a run and drive in another and Murphy had an RBI.
On the mound, junior Anthony Alioto Jr. (Matfield Heights/ Mayfield) started and pitched the first five-plus innings and took the loss to fall to 1-2 this season. He allowed nine base hits, five runs (four earned) and struck out Polar Bear before leaving with a 5-3 deficit. He was replaced by senior Dylan Fodor (Twinsburg) who pitched one inning and allowed one hit and no runs. Senior Jon Capadona (North Royalton) pitched the eighth and ninth innings and allowd one hit (a homer), one run (earned) and struck out two.
BW is back in action on Friday, April 18 when the Yellow Jackets host the University of Mount Union in an OAC doublehedaer at Heritage Field 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.
Photo Courtesy of Ken Gillissie