BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University baseball team swept all four games of an Ohio Athletic Conference home-and-home weekend series against Otterbein University.
On Friday, BW (11-5, 10-2 OAC) won the first game on Fishbaugh Field in 12 innings by a final score of 9-8. The Yellow Jackets completed the first series sweep with a 19-9 victory in seven innings. BW closed out the weekend series on Saturday by winning both games on Fisher Field. The Yellow Jackets won the first game by a final score of 8-7 and the second game by a final score of 9-5
In game one, BW scored nine runs on 13 hits as it plated two runs in the first, one in the third, three in the sixth, two in the seventh and one on the game winning and first career homerun by junior left fielder Bijan Kamalipour (Frisco, Texas/Jesuit College Preparatory School). Otterbein (5-7, 2-6 OAC) scored eight runs on 15 hits as it pushed one run across the plate in the second, two in the third, two in the seventh, two in the eighth and one in the ninth.
At the plate, the Yellow Jackets were led by senior second baseman Tony LoParo (Avon/Elyria Catholic) as he went 5-for-6 with a double, run scored, thee runs batted-in (RBIs) and a stolen base. Kamalipour was 2-for-2 with the game-winning homer, two runs scored and an RBI. Senior All-OAC short stop Alex Ludwick (Brunswick/Padua Franciscan) went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a walk. Senior All-American center fielder Dudley Taw (Sheffield Lake/Brookside) was 2-for-7 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs.
On the mound, sophomore right hander Dawson Gabe (Lawrence, Ind.) got the start and no decision as he allowed three runs on four hits with five strikeouts and two walks in six innings pitched. Sophomore righty Ethan Boyko (North Royalton) pitched 1.2 innings and allowed four runs on six hits with a walk. Junior right hander Maxwell Cebulak (Oakmont. Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic) pitched 1.1 innings and allowed one run on two hits. Junior righty Garret McLeod (Medina) picked up the win as he did not allow a run on three hits with three strikeouts in three innings pitched.
In game two, BW scored a season-high 19 runs on 19 hits as it plated one run in the first, seven in the third, including a two-run home run from sophomore catcher Andrew Parker (Toledo/Toledo Central Catholic), three on the fourth, including a solo shot from LoParo , four in the fifth, two in the sixth and two in the seventh. The Cardinals scored nine runs on 13 hits as they pushed one run across the plate in the first, one in the third, three in the fourth and four in the fifth.
At the plate, the Yellow Jackets were led by LoParo, Taw and junior right-handed pitcher Drew Wilson (Sagamore Hills/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) as the trio all went 3-for-5. LoParo added a triple, homer, three runs scored and three RBIs. Taw put up a double, two runs scored, three RBIs and a stolen base. Wilson tallied a double, one run scored and three RBIs.
On the mound, Wilson got the victory as he allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in 3.2 innings pitched. Senior lefty Spencer Berg (New Albany) pitched one inning and allowed four runs on five hits with a strikeout and walk. Sophomore left hander Nik Baldis (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) pitched 2.1 innings and did not allow a run on one hit with one strikeout.
In game three, BW scored eight runs on 13 hits as it plated one run in the first and third innings and two runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Otterbein scored seven runs on six hits as it pushed one run across the plate in the second and three in the fifth and seventh innings.
The Yellow Jackets were led at the by Taw, LoParo, Wilson and junior first baseman Alexis Castillo (Sunrise, Fla./ The Sagemont School) as all accounted for two hits. Taw went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. LoParo was for 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Wilson went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Castillo was 2-for-4 with a double, run scored and an RBI.
On the mound, freshman right hander Brendon Hink (Poland/ Neshannock {Pa.}) got the start and no decision as he allowed four runs (one earned) on five hits with one strikeout and two walks. Senior righty Jeremy McClure (Mentor) pitched one inning and allowed two runs on no hits with two walks. Ludwick moved the mound from shorts stop and picked up the victory as he pitched the final three innings and allowed one run on one hit with two walks.
In the fourth and final game of the weekend, BW scored nine runs on 12 hits as it plated three in the second, one in the third, three in the fourth and two in the seventh. The Cardinals scored five runs on nine hits as it pushed here runs across the plate in the third and one in the fifth and ninth innings.
The Yellow Jackets were led at the plate by LoParo as he went 3-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored and an RBI. Castillo was 2-for-5 with a double, homerun, one run scored and three RBIs. Ludwick went 2-for-5 with a run scored.
On the mound, freshman righty Kyle Maruna (Medina) got the start and no decision as he allowed three runs on three hits with four strikeouts and three walks. Senior Academic All-OAC right hander Scott Kirchhoff (Toledo/Sylvania Northview) picked up the win as he pitched the final six innings and allowed two runs on six hits with two strikeouts and four walks.
BW is back in action on Saturday, April 10 when it hosts the first doubleheader of an OAC home-and-home weekend series with crosstown rival John Carroll University on Fisher Field at 1 p.m.
