BEREA, OHIO -- The Baldwin-Wallace College baseball team split an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader at rival Ohio Northern University today (April 17, 2010) at Wander Field in Ada. The Polar Bears won the first game, 3-0, and the Yellow Jackets won the nightcap, 11-4.

With its split, B-W is now 8-16 overall and 3-5 in the OAC and is back in action on Wednesday, April 21 when it hosts OAC-rival Heidelberg University at 1:00 p.m. in a doubleheader at Heritage Field. That is the first two of five home games next week. With its split, ONU is now 17-8 overall and 3-5 in the OAC.  The win in the opener ended a four-game ONU losing streak.

In game one, ONU tallied its first run in the bottom of the second to lead 1-0 by way of a triple and a sacrifice fly. The Polar Bears took the lead for good with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 3-0 lead.
 
At the plate for B-W, had four base hits -- one each by senior second baseman Matt Rollins (Walbridge/ Millbury Lake), senior 3B Jim Martin (Euclid), senior first baseman Chris Nealon (Avon Lake) and senior designated hitter Scott Nealon (Avon Lake). Overall, BW stranded runners on base in six of seven innings, including having the bases loaded in the top of the seventh inning only to have the game end on a double play.  On the mound, senior Justin Novak (Strongsville) was the hard-luck loser as he tossed a five-hitter over six innings, but fell to 3-2 overall this season. He struck out one ONU batter and did not allow a walk.

In game two, the Yellow Jackets gained a 4-0 lead in the second inning as Scott Nealon walked with one out and stole second. After junior rightfielder Ted Cowling (Streetsboro) walked, junior catcher John Ulanski (Bay Village/ Bay) singled with Scott Nealon scoring and Ulanski stopping at second. After sophomore shortstop Anthony Longhitano (Cuyahoga Falls) singled to load the bases, freshman CF Nolan Neuschaefer (Elyria/ Senior) singled home Cowling. After a fielder's choice scored Ulanski, Rollins doubled home Longhitano.

ONU came right back in the bottom of the second with a pair of runs to make the score 4-2 and added a pair of unearned runs in the third to tie the game at 4-4.

Then B-W regained the lead at 5-4 as Neuschaefer led off the fourth inning with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored when Martin singled up the middle. The Yellow Jackets increased the lead to 9-4 in the sixth as Longhitano singled, but was forced out at second on a fielder's choice by freshman LF Brendan Touhey (East Amherst, N.Y./ St. Joseph�s Collegiate Institute). After Toughey stole second and Rollinswalked, Martin doubled home Toughey. After Chris Nealon walked to load the bases, Rollins then scored via a Scott Nealon single. Then Cowling singled home Martin and Ulanski walked to force home Chris Nealon.

The lead grew to 10-4 in the seventh as Neuschaefer singled, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and scored when Rollins singled to right field. BW scored its final run in the ninth as Toughey walked, moved to second on a Rollins single, to third on fielder's choice and scored when Chris Nealon hit a sacrifice fly.

At the plate, Neuschaefer, Longhitano and Rollins led the 15-hit attack with three each. In addition, Martinand Ulanski each had a pair.  On the mound, senior Scott Luthman (Celina) pitched a complete game four-hitter, allowed four runs (two earned), struck out five and walked six as he improved to 2-2 overall..

Following its games against Heidelberg, B-W will remain at home on Thursday, April 22 for a single, nine-inning game against traditional rival Oberlin College at 4:30 p.m. and then ends its brief homestand next Saturday, April 24 when it hosts Wilmington College in a twinbill at 1:00 p.m.

Yellow Jacket Alumni Baseball Players and fans should know that the annual B-W Alumni Baseball Doubleheader will take place on Saturday, May 1 when B-W hosts Muskingum University for two games 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.