BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University baseball team split an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader today against rival Wilmington College on Fisher Field. The Yellow Jackets (12-17, 6-4 OAC) won the first game, 13-1, and the Quakers (4-27, 1-9 OAC) captured the nightcap, 6-5, to end an 18-game losing streak.
In the opener, BW gained a 1-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning. After the Quakers tied it 1-1 with a run of their own in the top of the fourth, the Yellow Jackets regained a 2-1 lead with a run in the bottom of that frame. the lead mushroomed to 9-1 when BW had a seven-run fifth, to 10-1 with another tally in the sixth and 12-1 with two more in the seventh. BW scored its final run in the eighth.
On the mound, a pair of BW hurlerssenior All-OAC right-hander Mark Zimmerman (Akron/ Green) started and pitched the first five innings, left with a 9-1 lead and gained the victory to improve his record to 5-3 this season. He allowed five ghits and one run (unearned), struck out five Quaker batters and did not walk any. He was followed by senior righty Tom Loeffler (Shaker Heights) who pitched the final four innings and did not allow a run. He allowed two base hits and struck out five. Loeffler did not allow a Wilmington base runner for hisn first two and two-third innings of work.
At the plate, BW outhit the Quakers, 16-7. Sophomore center fielder Chase Knodle (Poland/ Seminary), Zimmerman, junior LF Alex Marcum (Granville), junior All-OAC seciond baseman Cole Nieto (Brunswick/ Cleveland St. Ignatius) and junior shortstop Steve Montgomery (Canton/ Central Catholic)each had two hits. Knodle was 2-for-4with a run scored, a run batted-in (RBI) and a stolen base. Zimmerman was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, a triple, RBI and stolen base. Marcum was 2-for-4 with three runs scored, two RBI and a stolen base. Nieto was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. Montgomery was 2-for-4 with a run scored.
In the nightcap, the Quakers took advantage of a combined three BW errors in the second and third innings to score five runs, including four that were unearned, to take a commanding, 5-0 lead. BW scored twice in the bottom of the third and once in the fourth to cut the Quaker lead to 5-3. Wilmington scored another iunearned run in the fifth to lead 6-3. The Yellow Jackets came back again and scored once in the sixth and another in the seventh to make it 6-5. BW had a chance in the ninth with a runner on second and one out, but a line drive that was caught and turned into a double play ended the game.
On the mound, sophomore left-hander Evan Lovick (Mentor), this week's OAC Pitcher of the Week, started and pitched the first eight innings and was the hard-luck loser and fell to 1-1 this season. He gave up nine hits and six runs (only one was earned). He also struck out four and walked one Quaker. The first of the six runs he gave up was earned. It ended a streak of 24 and two-third innings in which Lovick had allowed an opponent to score a run and dated back to Februaery 28. Senior Alex Albright (North Royalton) pitched a hitless and scoreless ninth and struck out one.
At the plate, Zimmerman and freshman designated hitter Reese Albright (North Royalton) led the way with two hits each. Zimmerman was 2-for-3 with a run scored, double and stolen base. Albright was 2-for-5 with a runs scored and a double.
BW is back in action tomorrow, Sunday, April 17 when the Yellow Jackets travel to Bradford, Pennsylvania to play Pitt-Bradford in a single, nine-inning, non-conference game at 3:30 p.m. BW also travels to Ada to play OAC rival Ohio Northern University in an OAC twinbill on Tuesday, April 19. The first game starts at 1 p.m.
Fans are reminded that the official dedication ceremony for Fisher Field will take place next 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.
