PORTSMOUTH, OHIO -- Sophomore shortstop Eric Murphy (Brook Park/ Midpark) drove in three runs, including the go-ahead two-run double in the top of the eighth inning, sending the Baldwin Wallace University baseball team to a 7-6 win today (Sunday, February 24, 2012) against NAIA foe Shawnee State University at Branch Rickey Park in Portsmouth, Ohio.
With the win, the Yellow Jackets open the season 2-0, while Shawnee State falls to 6-7, prior to the second game of today's doubleheader.
Murphy's fielder's choice in the top of the first inning and a run batted-in single by junior catcher Chaz McGrain (Valley City/ Olmsted Falls) in the second gave BW a 2-0 lead.
The lead was short-lived, however, after Shawnee State exploded for four runs in the bottom of the second frame to take a 4-2 lead.
The Yellow Jackets tied the game in the fourth frame when freshman right fielder Jerry Scholle (Hinckley/ Medina Highland) laced a two-out single to left field that scored a pair of runs.
A solo homer run by Joe Henderson in the Bears' fifth gave Shawnee State a one-run lead.
After two scoreless innings, a two-run double by Murphy and a RBI single by sophomore pinch hitter Alex Green (Pickerington/ North) gave BW three more runs and the lead for good.
Henderson's second home run of the game came in the bottom of the eighth, but it would not be enough.
Murphy was 2-for-5 at the plate with three RBI and a run scored, and senior Academic All-American and All-OAC left fielder Brendan Toughey (East Amherst, N.Y./ St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute) went 4-for-6 with three runs scored to lead the Yellow Jackets.
On the mound, sophomore right hander Brian Taricksa (Bay Village/ Bay) allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits, struck out three batters and walked three over 5.0 innings, but worked to a no decision. Junior righty Jon Capadona (North Royalton) came on in the sixth and surrendered just one run (earned) on a pair of hits while striking out four over 4.0 innings and earned his first win of the season.
Following its twinbill at Shawnee State, the Yellow Jackets next play a three-game series against Wabash (Ind.) College in Nashville, Tennessee next Saturday-Sunday, March 2-3. The following weekend, March 10-16, BW travels to Port Charlotte, Florida for its annual Spring Break Trip.
A year ago, the Yellow Jackets won a school-record 27 games and had a 27-13 overall record.
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 Jeff Miller by phone at 440-826-2780 and email at jefmille@bw.edu Fans can access the latest B-W athletics information at www.bw.edu/athletics and we invite you to join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwyellowjackets and Twitter at http://twitter.com/bwathletics.
