BEREA, OHIO -- The Baldwin-Wallace College baseball team dropped its home opener, 16-12 in 10 innings, to cross-town rival Case Western Reserve University this afternoon (Thursday, April 8, 2010) at Heritage Field in Berea. The two teams combined for 28 runs and 30 base hits.
With the loss, the Yellow Jackets fall to 6-11 overall and return to action this Saturday, April 10 versus Ohio Athletic Conference and cross-town rival John Carroll University at 1:00 p.m. in Berea. With the win, the Spartans improve to 14-13 overall.
For the game, the Spartans out-hit the Yellow Jackets 18-12.
CWRU scored twice in the top of the first and threatened for more but was turned away on a fine diving catch by B-W freshman centerfielder Nolan Neuschaefer (Elyria/Senior). The Yellow Jackets answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning when a run scored on a fielder's choice by senior designated hitter Scott Nealon (Avon Lake) and two more scored on a double to right center by senior third baseman Jim Martin (Euclid).
The Spartans came back with a four-run third inning highlighted by a three-run homerun from Chad Mullins and added a single score in the fourth to lead 7-3. B-W scored three in its half of the fourth on a two-run triple from sophomore shortstop Anthony Longhitano (Cuyahoga Falls) and a sacrifice fly from Neuschaefer.
Case once again answered with two more in the fifth before BW scored one in the bottom of the frame on a two-out single by senior rightfielder Ted Cowling (Streetsboro). The Jackets then moved ahead in the sixth after Neuschaefer scored on a wild pitch and Martin singled home two to make the score 10-9.
The Spartans regained the lead, at 12-10, with three in the top of the eighth but the Jackets quickly tied the score in the bottom of the inning when Martin tripled home a pair.
In the extra inning, CWRU took advantage of a Yellow Jacket error and scored four times to win the game, 16-12.
At the plate, Martin was 3-for-5 with a career-high six RBI and missed the cycle by only a homerun.Neuschaefer was 1-for-3 with three walks, a stolen base and two runs scored.
On the mound, senior Brian Boveington (Stow/ Stow-Munroe Falls) pitched two innings and suffered his second loss of the season (0-2 overall). CWRU's Devin Fry picked up the win out of the bullpen.
Following Saturday's DH versus JCU, B-W plays at OAC-rival Mount Union College on Wednesday, April 13 at 1:00 p.m.
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.
