ALLIANCE, OHIO –- The Baldwin Wallace University baseball team swept host and Ohio Athletic Conference rival the University of Mount Union today (Saturday, April 6, 2013) in a doubleheader at the 23rd Street Field. The Yellow Jackets won the first game, 10-5, and won the nightcap, 13-7. You can reach the first game story at http://www.bwyellowjackets.com/sports/bsb/2012-13/releases/mountgame1.
With its two wins, BW improved to 16-4 overall and 5-1 in the OAC. With its losses, Mt. Union dropped to 10-8 overall and 2-4 in the OAC.
In the second game, BW opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning for a 1-0 lead. The lead grew to 2-0 with a run in the second inning and to 5-0 with three more in the third. Mt. Union cut the deficit to 5-3 in the bottom of the third. BW grabbed a 6-3 lead with a run in the fourth but Mt. Union made it 6-4 with a tally in the fifth. The Yellow Jackets then put the game away with a run in the sixth and four more in the seventh for an 11-4 advantage. Mt. Union clawed back with a run in the bottom of the seventh to cut the deficit to 11-5. Undaunted, BW scored two more runs in the eighth to take a 13-5 lead. In the ninth, the Purple Raiders would shut down the Yellow Jackets offense and score two runs of their own for a 13-7 final.
In the top of the first after there was one out, junior third baseman Brad Gugliotta (Twinsburg) singled, advanced to third base on a single by sophomore right fielder Alex Green (Pickerington/ North) singled and scored on a fielder's choice.
In the top of the second inning with one out, sophomore shortstop Eric Murphy (Brook Park/ Midpark) doubled and scored on a single by freshman second baseman Mark Zimmerman (Akron/ Green).
In the third, senior CAPITAL ONE Academic All-American and All-OAC left fielder Brendan Toughey (East Amherst, N.Y./ St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute) led off with a single and moved to second base via a botched pickoff attempt. After Gugliotta walked and an out was recorded, Chontos singled to score Toughey for a 3-0 lead. After sophomore All-OAC designated hitter Zach Ferster (Olmsted Falls) was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Murphy scored Gugliotta with a sacrifice fly to make it 4-0. Zimmerman gave BW a 5-0 lead when he singled home Chontos.
After Mt. Union made it a 5-3 game with three runs in the third, BW took a 6-3 lead with a run in the fourth when senior All-OAC center fielder Nolan Neuschaefer (Elyria) reached on an error, stole second base and scored when Gugliotta hit a sacrifice fly.
After Mt. Union made it a 6-4 game with a run in the bottom of the fifth, BW added a run in the sixth to take a 7-4 lead. With one out, Toughey singled, stole second and scored on a Gugliotta run-scoring single
In the seventh, BW broke the game open. Ferster walked, moved to second when Murphy reached via a Purple Raider error, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a wild pitch. After junior catcher Joe Hiller (Twinsburg) walked and Mt. Union got the second out, Toughey also walked to load the bases. Murphy then scored on a passed ball and both Hiller and Toughey each moved up a base. Hiller and Toughey then scored when Murphy had his third straight hit in the game.
In the eighth, Murphy walked, moved to second when Zimmerman reached on an error. The duo moved up on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a Neuschaefer two-run single.
At the plate for the Yellow Jackets, Gugliotta and Green led the way with three hits each. Gugliotta also scored two runs and drove in four. Both Zimmerman and Neuschaefer each had a pair of runs batted-in. Murphy and Toughey each scored three times.
On the mound for BW, sophomore righty Anthony Alioto Jr. (Mayfield Heights / Mayfield) who pitched three innings, allowed 10 hits and five runs (both earned), struck out three and did not walk a batter. He earned the victory to improve to 2-0 this season. Junior righty Jon Capadona (North Royalton) followed Alioto to the hill and pitched one and one third innings. He allowed three hits, two runs (both earned), struck out one batter and walked one. Junior specialist Cory Waite (Willoughby/ South) pitched the final two thirds of an inning. He allowed one hit and struck out two hitters of scoreless relief.
BW is back in action on Tuesday, April 9 when it hosts perennial NCAA Division III non-league power The College of Wooster in a single, nine-inning game at Heritage Field in Berea at 4:00 p.m. Then the Yellow Jackets travel to Columbus on Wednesday, April 10 to play OAC rival Capital University in a doubleheader at 1:00 p.m. Next Saturday, April 13, BW hosts OAC foe Wilmington College in a twinbill at 1:00 p.m.
FOR MORE BW 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 Jeff Miller by phone at 440-826-2780 and email 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.
