UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University baseball team received solid pitching and clutch hitting as it swept an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader with OAC and Cleveland cross-town rival John Carroll University at Schweikert Field. The Yellow Jackets won the first game, 4-2, and captured the night cap, 5-4.

In the first game, BW (7-9, 2-0 OAC) scored single runs in each of the top of the first two innings to build a 2-0 lead, but JCU (6-10, 0-2 OAC) countered with two of its own in the bottom of the fifth two tie it at 2-2. The Jackets scored the winning runs in the seventh.

On the mound, four-time senior All-OAC standout right-hander Mark Zimmerman (Akron/ Green) was dominant and improved to 4-1 this season. He pitched the first eight innings, allowed seven base hits, two runs (both earned), struck out 11 and walked two. He lowed his earned run average (ERA) to 2.35 this spring and has struck of 56 batters in 38 and one-third innings of work (12/44 per nine innings). Sophomore All-OAC left-hander Evan Lovick (Mentor) pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to gain his first career save and lower his ERA to a team-leading 2.08 overall.

At the plate, BW outhit the Blue Streaks, 11-7. Senior All-OAC first baseman Hunter Handel (Akron/ Green) led BW and was 3-for-4 with a run scored and a run batted-in (RBI). In addition, sophomore third baseman Spencer Badia (Bellaire) was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI and junior shortstop Steve Montgomery (Canton/ Cenral Catholic) was 2-for-3 with a run scored.

In the nightcap, JCU grabbed a 2-0 lead with a run in each of the bottom of the first and third frames. BW tied it 2-2 in the fourth when junior designated hitter Alex Marcum (Granville) hit his first career home run, a two-run shot, one batter after Handel singled. The Yellow Jackets took a 4-2 lead in the seventh with hits and stolen bases. Freshman rightfielder Reese Albright (North Royalton) drive in the go-ahead run with a single after All-OAC second baseman Cole Nieto (Brunswick/ Cleveland St. Ignatius) singled with one out and then stole second. Albright then stole second and scored on a single by senior two-time Academic All-OAC centerfielder John Taylor (Stow/ Hudson).

BW increased its lead to 5-2 in the eighth when Zimmerman singled, stole second and scored on a single by sophomore catcher Trent Kaltenbach (Plain City/ Jonathan Alder). The Blue Streaks cut BW's lead to 5-4 with a pair of runs in the eighth. JCU also threatened in the ninth with a single, sacrifice bunt and a ground out to move the tying run to third base, but sophomore "stopper" Evan Lovick (Mentor) got the last out to earn his second save of the day and of his career.

On the mound, senior right-hander Alex Albright (North Royalton) pitched the first seven innings and allowed eight hits, four runs (three earned), struck out seven and did not walk a batter as he improved to 3-1 this season. Lovick entered the game in the eighth with runners on second and third base, respectively, and no outs. He got three outs and a pair of JCU runs scored on ground outs. He allowed two hits and no runs and again lowered his ERA to a team-leading 1.69 overall.

At the plate, Reese Albright was 3-for-4 to lead the way with a run scored, an RBI, double and stolen base. Taylor was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

The Yellow Jackets are back in action on Tuesday, March 29 when they travel to University Circle to play their other Cleveland cross-town rival, Case Western Reserve University in a single, nine-inning game at 4 p.m. BW also plays single games at Allegheny (Pa.) College on Wednesday, March 30 and hosts CWRU on Thursday, March 31.  BW als hosts Otterbein University in an OAC twinbill at Fisher Field on Saturday, April 2. The first game begins at 1 p.m.

Fans are reminded that the official dedication ceremony for Fisher Field will take place on Saturday, April 23 at 12 noon and prior to BW's Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader versus Capital University. The first game begins at 1 p.m.