BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University baseball team exploded for 25 runs against Heidelberg University as the Yellow Jackets notched their second straight Ohio Athletic Conference sweep.
BW (21-9, 7-5 OAC) took game one over Heidelberg (17-11, 5-7 OAC) by a score of 11-6 and then earned the sweep with a 14-4 win in game two.
In the first game, the Yellow Jackets were able to break through for two runs in the bottom of the third as senior All-OAC right fielder Alex Marcum (Granville) blasted a two-run home run to left field. After the Student Princes cut the deficit in half at 2-1 in the top of the fifth, the BW offense erupted for six runs in the bottom half of the inning, capped off by a two-run double from junior designated hitter Asa Adams (Sarver, Pa./Knoch). Three more runs would come across in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a solo shot from sophomore left fielder Dudley Taw (Sheffield Lake/Brookside) and a double from freshman shortstop Alex Ludwick (Brunswick/Padua Franciscan). Heidelberg would add three runs in the seventh and two in the ninth while the Yellow Jackets would plate one final run in the eighth for the 11-6 victory.
Taw led BW with a 3-for-5 day at the plate with one run batted in and three runs scored. Marcum went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and a team-high 3 RBIs. Senior All-OAC second baseman Spencer Badia (Bellaire) also turned in a two-hit performance with one RBI.
On the mound, senior American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings All-Mideast Region and All-OAC pitcher Evan Lovick (Mentor) was credited with the win as he went 6.2 innings, giving up four earned runs on five hits and four walks with six strikeouts to move to 6-2 on the year.
BW kept the momentum going into the second game and came out swinging. The Yellow Jackets would score at least one run in each of the first six innings, including a big six-spot in the bottom of the fifth. Meanwhile, junior right-handed pitcher Danny Cody (Medina/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) was able to keep the Student Princes off the scoreboards until the fifth inning when they plated two unearned runs. Heidelberg would add two more in the seventh but four runs would not be enough to keep up with the Yellow Jackets' offense.
Taw once again led BW in the second game with a career-high tying five hits and four RBIs. Senior All-OAC catcher Trent Kaltenbach and Adams each banged out two hits while Badia added three RBIs and Marcum chipped in two RBIs of his own.
Cody earned his third win of the year with a five inning performance, only allowing the two unearned runs on four hits and four walks with eight strikeouts. Senior left-handed pitcher Chad Kuebler (Toledo/Central Catholic), freshman righty Jeremy McClure (Mentor) and senior right-handed pitcher Nick Patrone (Bellaire) each threw in scoreless relief of Cody.
BW will look to register its third straight OAC sweep when the Yellow Jackets welcome Capital University to Berea on Saturday, April 21, on Fisher Field. First pitch is at 1 p.m. and the second game will follow at approximately 4 p.m.
