By: Amanda Phillips
WILMINGTON, Ohio- The Baldwin Wallace University baseball team hit the road Sunday afternoon for second half of its home-and-home Ohio Athletic Conference weekend series with Wilmington College on Tewsbury-Delaney Field.
Backed by an explosive lineup, the Yellow Jackets (4-3, 4-0 OAC) took down the Quakers (1-7, 0-4 OAC) in seven innings in game one by a score of 14-4. BW followed up that performance with another outstanding game from the batter's box, winning game two 11-4.
The Yellow Jackets took the early lead in game one against Wilmington with a single hit to center field from sophomore designated hitter Luke Vonderhaar (New Bremen) to bring home senior All-OAC shortstop Alex Ludwick (Brunswick) in the top of the first. BW continued scoring as it tallied eight hits and five runs over the next three innings. Up 7-1, the Quakers tried to mount a comeback by scoring three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Their momentum quickly faded as the Yellow Jackets caught fire in the sixth, scoring seven runs to run-rule Wilmington in the seventh inning. Highlighted by a 2RBI hit to right center from sophomore third baseman Chris Viamonte (Naples, Fla./Lely).
The Jackets saw six different pitchers on the mound in game one as freshman righty Kyle Maruna (Medina) got the start, pitching for four innings and four strikeouts to earn the victory. Sophomore right hander Matt Sabin (Mentor) and freshman righty Gordon Seger (Rome) each pitched an inning and did not allow a hit.
Game two started off just as hot for BW, as junior first baseman Alexis Castillo (Sunrise, Fla./ The Sagemont School) hit a single to bring home Ludwick in the first inning. In the following inning, sophomore catcher Andrew Parker (Toledo/Toledo Central Catholic) hit a single, but due to error brought home both junior designated hitter Drew Wilson (Sagamore Hills/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) and senior All-American center fielder Dudley Taw (Sheffield Lake/Brookside) to put BW up 3-0. The offensive momentum seemed to quiet down for the Jackets until Ludwick hit his third homer of the weekend in the fifth to extend the lead to three runs. Just like in the previous game, BW caught its offensive stride late and brought in seven runs in the seventh inning. The Jackets held off the Quakers in the final two innings to earn the 11-4 victory and complete the home-and-away sweep of Wilmington.
Starting on the mound and earning the win for BW in the second game was freshman right hander Brendon Hink (Poland/Neshannock {Pa.}) who pitched five full innings tallying a pair of strikeouts and giving up only one walk. Senior left hander Spencer Berg (New Albany) and senior righty Scott Kirchoff (Toledo/Sylvania Northview) pitched relief over the next three innings combining for two strikeouts and three runs. Junior right hander Clay Anderson (Garfield Heights/Trinity) closed for the Jackets in the final inning not allowing any hits.
The Yellow Jackets take the diamond again on Saturday, March 27 when they travel to Tiffin for the first OAC doubleheader of the weekend against Heidelberg University. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. with the second game scheduled for 4 p.m.
