BEREA, OHIO -- The Baldwin-Wallace College baseball team split an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader with cross-town rival John Carroll University this afternoon (Saturday, April 10, 2010) at Heritage Field in Berea. The Yellow Jackets won the opener, 7-2, but the Blue Streaks came from six down to win the nightcap, 9-8.
With the split, B-W moves to 7-12 overall and 2-2 in the OAC. JCU moves to 14-8 overall and 2-2 in the OAC.
In game one, BW jumped out to a 2-0 lead when senior designated hitter Scott Nealon (Avon Lake) blasted a two-run homer to left that scored senior second baseman Matt Rollins (Wallbridge/Millbury Lake). B-W added four runs in the fourth with a key two-run single coming off of the bat of senior catcher Matt Bush (Grafton/Midview).
The Jackets added one more in the fifth when Bush singled home senior third baseman Jim Martin (Euclid)and the Blue Streaks scored their only runs with a two-run homer in the sixth.
On the mound, B-W senior Justin Novak (Strongsville) tossed his third complete game of the season to improve to 3-1. He allowed two earned runs on six hits and two walks and struck out a pair in seven innings of work.
At the plate, Bush, Martin and Rollins each collected two hits and Bush recorded three runs batted-in.
In game two, B-W picked up right where it left off at the plate with five runs in the first inning. Senior outfielder Ted Cowling (Streetsboro) highlighted the frame with his first career grand slam. After the Streaks got on the board in the third, the Jackets added one in the third on a Cowling RBI double and one in the fourth on an infield hit by senior first baseman Chris Nealon (Avon Lake).
On the mound, B-W senior Scott Luthman (Celina) pitched the first seven innings and left with the lead. He allowed five earned runs on seven hits and struck out a career-high nine batters. Freshman David Redovian (Fairlawn/Copley) pitched an inning and a third in relief and suffered the loss to drop to 0-1. Sophomore Chris Terlop (Strongsville) pitched a perfect two-thirds of an inning to keep the Jackets close in the ninth.
JCU's Michael Eden pitched two perfect innings in relief with four strikeouts to earn the victory.
At the plate, Cowling was 3-for-5 with a career-high five RBI. Freshman centerfielder Nolan Neuschaefer (Elyria/Senior) was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, Scott Nealon was 2-for-5 with two runs, Martin was 2-for-5 with an RBI, and sophomore shortstop Anthony Longhitano (Cuyahoga Falls) was 2-for-4.
B-W opens a five-game road trip this Tuesday, April 13 with an OAC twin bill at rival Mount Union College at 1:00 p.m. at 23rd Street Field in Alliance.
FOR MORE B-W Sports Information, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu or Assistant SID Nick Minerd by phone at 440-826-2780 and e-mail at nminerd@bw.edu. Fans can access the latest B-W athletics information at www.bw.edu/athletics and we invite you to join us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bwathletics.
