BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University baseball team opened the 2019 regular season as it dropped a non-conference double header with Brockport (N.Y.) University on Fisher Field.
Brockport (3-1) won the first ten-inning contest with a score of 3-1 and took game two by a score of 5-3.
In game one BW (0-2) scored one run off three hits, with the lone run coming in the bottom half of the third, when sophomore infielder Alex Ludwick (Brunswick/Padua Franciscan) drove home senior catcher Asa Adams (Sarver, Pa./Knoch).
The Yellow Jackets were led by Ludwick, American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings All-Mideast Region and All-Ohio Athletic Conference outfielder Dudley Taw (Sheffield Lake/Brookside) and senior first basemen Philip Wells (Buffalo, N.Y./Saint Joseph's Collegiate), as each recorded one hit.
In game one, senior (ABCA)/Rawlings All-Mideast Region and All-Ohio Athletic Conference pitcher Danny Cody (Medina/Brecksville-Broadview Hts.) toed the rubber and went five innings with seven strikeouts and only allowed two hits with no runs. Senior pitcher Jack Raines (Akron/Archbishop Hoban) came in relief and received his first loss on the season after going five innings, allowing three runs and seven strikeouts.
In game two, BW knotted things up at one in the bottom of the fourth with a single to right from junior infielder Jacob Bonner (Akron/Archbishop Hoban), driving home Taw. The Yellow Jackets took the lead in the sixth with a Taw double that brought home Ludwick. The Golden Eagles tied it up in the eighth and took a 5-2 lead in the ninth. BW managed one run in the ninth but could not string together the hits to make the comeback.
The Yellow Jackets were led in game two by Taw who went two-for-three with one double and triple, while driving in one run and scoring one. Ludwick, Bonner, and freshman catcher JT Mazula (Pittsburgh. Pa./North Hills) each had one hit a piece.
Making his first start of the season was junior pitcher Spencer Aukerman (Medina). His line included five innings, three hits, one run and five strikeouts. Junior left-handed-pitcher Spencer Berg (New Albany) followed with 3.1 innings, three runs off two hits, three strikeouts and received the loss. Junior left-handed-pitcher Academic All-OAC Michael Hubert (Cincinnati/Oak Hills) went .2 innings with one run and two strikeouts.
BW will play a double-header against St. John Fisher (N.Y) College on Saturday, March 2 in the Russmatt Classic down in Lakeland, Florida. Game one is slated for 12 p.m and game two for 3 p.m.
