BEREA, OHIO -- The Baldwin-Wallace University Yellow Jacket baseball team fell to Thomas More (Ky.) College, 16-9, today (Thursday, March 12, 2009) in Winter Haven, Florida.  B-W is now 2-5 overall and next plays on Friday when it faces Waynesburg (Pa.) College in a doubleheader beginning at 2:30 p.m.

B-W jumped out to a 4-0 lead with four runs in the first inning and extended its lead to 7-2 with three more runs in the second.  Thomas More scored four runs in the third and three in the fourth to take a 9-7 advantage after four innings.  The Yellow Jackets answered with two runs in the fifth to tie the game at nine but that is all B-W would score as Thomas More scored two in the sixth, three in the seventh and one in the eighth and ninth to secure the victory.

Offensively, sophomore outfielder Ben Stoper (Medina/Senior) led the Yellow Jackets with three hits, including two doubles, and three RBI.  Junior outfielder Chris Nealon (Avon Lake) added three hits of his own, along with a double and a RBI.  Senior first baseman Riley Kriesher (Ashtabula/Edgewood) chipped in with two hits, a double and triple, and a RBI.

On the mound, senior righthander Jim Jaskowak (Grove City, Pa./ Grove City) started and lasted five and one-third innings to suffer the loss. Junior righthander Jonathan Susin (Twinsburg/Senior) came on for Jaskowak and completed the contest.

Following their twinbill tomorrow versus Waynesburg, the Yellow Jackets are back in action for the final time in Winter Haven when they face St. Joseph's (N.Y.) College in a single, nine-inning game at 9:30 a.m on Saturday. B-W then opens its northern schedule on Saturday, March 21 with an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader against Muskingum College in Berea at Heritage Field at 1:00 p.m.

FOR  MORE  INFORMATION, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at (440) 826-2327 and via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu or Assistant SID Nick Minerd by phone at (440) 826-2780 and via e-mail at nminerd@bw.edu.  To contact Head Coach Bob Fisher, please call him at (440) 826-2182 in his office and e-mail him at rfisher@bw.edu.  More information may be accessed on the B-W athletics page atwww.bw.edu/athletics.