BEREA, Ohio– The Baldwin Wallace University baseball team split with Ohio Athletic Conference and cross-town rival John Carroll University in an OAC doubleheader on Fisher Field.
BW (11-6, 1-3 OAC) won game one by a score of 8-3 and John Carroll (7-10, 1-1 OAC) took game two by a score of 12-5.
In game one, the Yellow Jackets scored eight runs on 10 hits as it scored four in the first, two in the second and one run in the sixth and eighth innings. The Blue Streaks scored one run in the first, third and ninth innings.
Offensively BW was led by senior right fielder Alex Marcum (Granville) as he went five-for-five with three doubles and five runs batted in (RBI). In addition, senior shortstop Steve Montgomery (Canton/Central Catholic) and junior third baseman Spencer Badia (Bellaire) each went two-for-four. Montgomery hit a double and Badia recorded a RBI.
On the bump, sophomore All-OAC starter Evan Lovick (Mentor) earned the victory as he pitched eight innings, struck out seven batters and only allowed two runs. Sophomore Brandon Lekan (Strongsville) pitched the ninth inning and punched out two John Carroll batters.
In game two, the Yellow Jackets scored one run in the second and third innings, two in the sixth and one in the seventh. John Carroll scored six runs in the second, five in the sixth and one in the eighth.
At the plate, senior All-OAC designated hitter Cole Nieto (Brunswick/St. Ignatius) led the way as he went two-for-four with a two RBI double. Also for BW senior first baseman Kevin Hagen (Brecksville/St. Ignatius) and freshman centerfielder Dudley Taw (Sheffield Lake/Brookside) each went one-for-four with an RBI.
Defensivley, sophomore pitcher Danny Cody (Brecksville/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) was handed the loss as he surrendered six runs in the second inning and only made it through one and one-third innings. Lekan pitched the next three and two-thirds and only allowed three earned runs with two strikeouts. Freshmen Spencer Aukerman (Medina) and Michael Hubert (Cincinnati/Oak Hills) pitched the final four innings for the Yellow Jackets. Auckerman went one inning and allowed one run on two hits. Hubert pitched the final three innings as he surrendered one run on two hits and struck out five batters.
BW is back in action on Tuesday, March 28 when it hosts La Roche (Pa.) College in a non-conference game on Fisher Field at 4 p.m. The game was originally scheduled for Saturday, March 18 but was postponed to inclement weather.
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YELLOW JACKET STINGERS:
ANNUAL BASEBALL ALUMNI GATHERING: The annual BW Baseball Alumni gathering this spring will be on Saturday, April 8 when the Yellow Jackets host OAC arch-rival and 18th-ranked Marietta College in a doubleheader at Bob Fisher Field at 1:00 p.m.
ZIMMERMAN STARTS SECOND PRO SEASON: 2016 BW graduate and OAC Player of the Year Mark Zimmerman is beginning his second professional baseball season as a member of the San Diego Padres. He was drafted last spring after completing an outstanding four-year career as a Yellow Jacket. Good luck, Mark!
BW BASEBALL ALMANAC: Since the late 90's, Baldwin Wallace graduate and former Academic All-America baseball student-athlete and second baseman Guy Fisher has maintained the BW Baseball Almanac. It is his labor of love. To access the web site, CLICK HERE.
