ADA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University dropped an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader to Ohio Northern University at Wander Field.
Ohio Northern (18-6, 6-2 OAC) took game one by a score of 4-3 and then won the second game 2-0.
Although BW (17-9, 3-5 OAC) had the first scoring opportunity with a runner on third base in the top of the first, Ohio Northern struck first in the bottom half of the inning off a pair of Yellow Jacket errors. As the game progressed, the Polar Bears' starting pitcher kept the BW offense off balance while ONU added to its lead with a three-run fifth inning.
Trailing 4-0 in the top of the sixth, sophomore left fielder Dudley Taw (Sheffield Lake/Brookside) got the inning started with a single to right field. Senior All-OAC right fielder Alex Marcum (Granville) then stepped to the plate and clobbered his sixth home run of the season to get BW on the scoreboard at 4-2. A few batters later, sophomore infielder Lane Niemann (Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale South) continued his hot hitting of late with an RBI single through the left side, bringing the score to 4-3 in favor of the Polar Bears. BW had the chance to tie the game in the top of the ninth as a sacrifice bunt from junior outfielder Andy Blough (Wooster/Smithville) put a runner on second but the Yellow Jackets could not bring the runner home.
At the plate, senior center fielder Chase Knodle (Poland/Seminary) was the lone player with a two-hit game while Marcum had a game-high 2 RBIs.
Senior American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings All-Mideast Region and All-OAC pitcher Evan Lovick (Mentor) moves to 5-2 on the year after taking the loss, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits and five walks. Junior lefty Jack Raines (Akron/Archbishop Hoban) threw three innings of scoreless relief, only giving up three hits.
In the second game, Ohio Northern again took the early lead with one run each in the second and third innings while the Yellow Jackets struggled to score runs again. Those two runs would be all the Polar Bears needed to seal the victory.
BW had four hits in the second game off the bats of Knodle, freshman shortstop Alex Ludwick (Brunswick/Padua Franciscan), Niemann and freshman infielder Luke Razzante (Highland Heights/Mayfield).
Junior right handed pitcher Danny Cody (Medina/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) suffered the loss in the second game after throwing six innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on seven hits and one walk with four strikeouts.
BW will look to bounce back when the Yellow Jackets travel to New Concord for an OAC doubleheader with Muskingum University on Saturday, April 14, at 1 and 4 p.m. at Mose Morehead Field.
