CLEVELAND, OHIO – The Baldwin Wallace University baseball team won the second game by a final score of 9-5 to earn a non-conference doubleheader split against Case Western Reserve University at Nobby's Ballpark. Case (25-12) won the first game by a final score of 7-6.
After scoreless first inning, the Yellow Jackets (25-12) scored two runs on three hits as sophomore shortstop Eric Murphy (Brook Park/Midpark) and freshman right fielder Jerry Scholle (Hinckley/Medina Highland) each crossed the plate. Murphy led off the inning with a walk and scored on a wild pitch. Scholle singled down the right field line and scored on the run batted-in (RBI) double down the left field line by senior CAPITAL ONE Academic All-American left fielder Brendan Toughey (East Amherst; N.Y./St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute).
In the top half of the third, BW added to its lead at 3-0 when junior catcher Joe Hiller (Twinsburg) belted his first career homerun to left field. The homer was also the first of the season to be knocked out of Nobby's Ballpark.
The Spartans made it a one run game at 3-2 in the bottom half of the inning as they plated their two runs on four hits but left the bases loaded.
The Yellow Jackets pushed the lead back up to two runs at 4-2 in the top of the fourth as they scored their lone run on two hits as junior third baseman Brad Gugliotta (Twinsburg) led off the inning with a single and scored on a fielding error by the second baseman.
BW extended the lead to four runs at 6-2 in the top of the eighth as it plated two runs on one hit with two errors. Toughey led off the inning with a single. Gugliotta put down a sacrifice bunt but reach on the error by the pitcher and ended up on second and put Toughey on third. Toughey scored on a wild pitch and Gugliotta crossed the plate on a throwing error by the catcher on the same play.
The Yellow Jackets pushed the lead to 9-2 in the top of the ninth inning as they scored three runs all with two outs on one hit. Hiller led off the inning reaching on an error by the third baseman. After an out, Scholle walked and was forced out on the fielder's choice by freshman center fielder John Taylor (Stow/Hudson). Toughey walked to load the bases when Gugliotta delivered a two out, two RBI single to right field scoring Hiller and Taylor. Toughey closed out the BW scoring when he scored on the stolen base as Gugliotta also stole second.
Case scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning but fell short 9-5.
The Yellow Jacket offense exploded for nine runs on 14 hits led by Scholle and Toughey, who went 3-for-3 and 3-for-5, respectively. Hiller and sophomore first baseman Kyle Chontos (Pickerington/North) each went 2-for-3. Gugliotta and Taylor were 2-for-5. Toughey added two runs scored and upped his school record for runs scored to 148. Gugliotta contributed two RBI while Hiller and Taylor each had one RBI.
On the mound, sophomore righty Anthony Alioto, Jr. (Mayfield Heights/Mayfield) made his seventh start and pitched 8 1/3 innings. Alioto (4-1) allowed five runs (three earned) on 12 hits with four strikeouts and one walk. Junior right-hander Dylan Fodor (Twinsburg), who took the loss in the first game, did not get an out and allowed two runs on two hits. Freshman Brandon Cichocki (Walled Lake, Mich./Central) pitched the final 2/3 of an inning and ended the game with a one pitch ground out double play.
BW closes out the home portion of its schedule on Wednesday; May 1 when it hosts cross-town rival John Carroll University in a single nine-inning non-conference game at 4:30. Prior to the start of the game the team will honor its eight seniors and their parents. The Yellow Jackets ends the 2013 season on Saturday; May 4 when they travel to Westerville for an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader against Otterbein University at 1:00 p.m.
FOR MORE BW SPORTS INFORMATION, please contact SID Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu and Assistant SID Jeff Miller by telephone at 440-826-2780 and e-mail at jefmille@bw.edu. Fans can access the latest BW athletics information at www.bwyellowjackets.com and we invite you to join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwyellowjackets and Twitter at http://twitter.com/bwathletics.
