TIFFIN, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University baseball team split an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader with Heidelberg University at Peaceful Valley on Frann's Field.
BW (20-9, 9-3 OAC), who received 15 votes in the latest D3baseball.com Top 25 poll, plated nine runs off 16 hits to win game one, 9-6. One run crossed in the first, three in the second, two more in the third and fourth, before one in the sixth to win game one. Heidelberg (20-9, 8-4 OAC) scored five runs off nine hits.
The Yellow Jacket offense was led by sophomore shortstop Alex Ludwick (Brunswick/Padua Franciscan) as he went 3-for-6 with two doubles, including three runs batted-in (RBI) off a double in the second, and scored two runs. Junior designated hitter Sam Sustersic (Richfield/Revere) went 3-for-4 at the dish with one double, including an RBI single in the third, and scored two runs. Senior first baseman Philip Wells (Buffalo, N.Y./Saint Joseph's Collegiate) had two singles as one drove in two runs in the fourth. Senior catcher Asa Adams (Sarver, Pa./Knoch) went 2-of-6 with an RBI single in the sixth and a double, as well as a run scored. Senior two-time Academic All-OAC right fielder Reese Albright (Parma/North Royalton) went 2-for-5 with two singles, one RBI and a run scored. Sophomore third baseman Tony LoParo (Avon Elyria Catholic) went 2-for-5 and scored a run. Senior second baseman Kyle Pennington (Wadsworth) had one hit and a run scored while senior left fielder Jacob Bonner (Akron/Archbishop Hoban) had one double and a run scored.
On the mound, making his eighth start, was senior American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-Mideast Region and All-OAC right-handed pitcher Danny Cody (Medina/ Brecksville-Broadview Hts.). His line included a career-tying eight innings with 10 strikeouts where allowed four runs off eight hits. In relief was junior left-handed pitcher Spencer Berg (New Albany) and he got one out, while allowing one run off one hit. Marking his second save was junior Academic All-OAC lefty Michael Hubert (Cincinnati/Oak Hills), as he struck out one for his two-out save.
In game two, the Yellow Jackets scored six runs off six hits with four runs coming in the fifth and two in sixth, before dropping game two, 7-6. The Student Princes plated seven runs off nine hits.
Pennington led the offense as he went 2-for-5 with two RBI, including a one-run single in the top of the fifth to tie the game at three. Adams had two RBI, including an RBI single in the sixth, and scored a run. Junior Academic All-OAC centerfielder Brandon Dim (Solon) had an RBI single in the sixth and also scored a run. Wells earned an RBI in the fifth which gave BW a 4-3 lead. Ludwick and LoParo each had one hit and scored a run, while Albright and senior Academic All-OAC leftfielder Lane Niemann (Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale South) each scored a run.
On the mound was senior lefty Jack Raines (Akron/Archbishop Hoban) and his line included seven innings where he allowed seven runs (five earned) off eight hits and struck out four. Freshman right-handed pitcher Drew Wilson (Sagamore Hills/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) entered in relief and dealt one inning off no-run baseball where he struck out two and let up one hit.
BW continues its six-game road trip with an OAC doubleheader against Capital University on Friday, April 19. Game one is slated for 1 p.m and 4 p.m.
