BEREA, Ohio -- The 15th-ranked (March 22 D3baseball.com Division III national poll) Baldwin Wallace University baseball team of the Ohio Athletic Conference swept North Coast Athletic Conference foe Allegheny (Pa.) College, 12-6 and 8-4 in seven innings, in a doubleheader in its home-opener at Heritage Field.
In the first game, BW (10-2) built a 12-0 lead after four innings en route to the victory. The Jackets scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning, one each in the second and third and added four more in the fourth. Allegheny (6-5) scored two in the fifth and four in the eighth.
At the plate, BW outhit Allegheny, 16-7. Junior two-time All-OAC second baseman Mark Zimmerman (Akron/ Green), junior All-OAC designated hitter Hunter Handel (Akron/ Green) and junior Academic All-OAC center fielder John Taylor (Hudson) each had three hits to pace the offense. Zimmerman was 3-for-3 with three runs scored, a double and a run batted-in (RBI). Handel was 3-for-4 with two runs scored, two doubles and two RBI. Taylor was 3-for-3 with one run scored, two doubles, three RBI and a stolen base.
In addition, senior All-OAC left fielder Zach Ferster (Olmsted Falls) and senior Division III All-American first baseman Kyle Chontos (Pickerington/ North) each had two hits. Ferster was 2-for-4 with one run scored, an RBI and two stolen bases. Chontos was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. The two hits left Chontos one shy of tying the BW all-time school-record of 184 by Cody Kidd (2006-2009).
On the mound, sophomore right-hander Logan Heffernan (Lebanon) started, pitched five innings and earned his first victory of the season to improve to 1-0. He allowed four base hits, two runs (both earned), struck out five Allegheny hitters, walked two and hit three others. Junior righty Matt Wittels (Lyndhurst/ Brush) pitched two scoreless innings of relief, allowed three hits and whiffed one. Freshman righty Brandon Wysong (Bradford) started the eighth, pitched one-third of an inning, but needed help from junior righty Alex Albright (North Royalton). Albright threw a spotless final one and two-third innings.
In the second game, BW started strong again with two runs in the bottom of the first inning, but Allegheny tied it at 2-2 with a pair of its own in the top of the second. The Yellow Jackets gained the lead in the fourth with three tallies for a 5-2 advantage and built it to 8-2 with three more in the fifth. The Gators cut the BW lead to 8-4 with two runs in the sixth. The game was shortened to seven innings due to darkness.
At the plate, Zimmerman led the way with three more hits and Handel had another pair. Zimmerman was 3-for-4 with a run scored, triple and three RBI. Handel was 2-for-3 with his third double of the twinbill and an RBI.
On the mound, Albright started and pitched the first two innings, allowed three hits, two runs (both earned), struck out three and walked one. He was followed by freshman left-hander Evan Lovick (Mentor) who tossed four innings, allowed three hits, two runs (both earned), struck out one and walked five. Lovick improved to 2-0 with the win. Senior staff ace Cory Waite (Willoughby/ South) pitched the final inning and walked one.
The Yellow Jackets return to action tomorrow, Wednesday, March 25 when BW travels to Delaware, Ohio to play a single non-league game against traditional rival Ohio Wesleyan University at 4 p.m. This Saturday, March 28, BW hosts 22nd-ranked Marietta College on in an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader at 1 p.m.