By: Athletic Communications Student Assistant Joe Meyer '24
BEREA, Ohio - The No. 7 nationally-ranked Baldwin Wallace University baseball team claimed its first outright Ohio Athletic Conference regular season title since 1986 with a doubleheader split on Seniors' Day against crosstown rival John Carroll University on the Fisher Field.
After dropping a 4-1 decision in game one, the Yellow Jackets responded to take down the Blue Streaks by a final score of 6-5 in game two to clinch the OAC regular season title outright. The split earned BW its 15th OAC win of the season, setting a new single-season program record previously shared by four 14-win teams (1986, 1990, 1991, and 2019).
As regular season champions, BW has earned the right to host the OAC tournament for the second time in four seasons. The Yellow Jackets will open the four-team, three-day double-elimination tournament with a rematch against fourth-seeded JCU on Thursday, May 11. More information regarding the OAC tournament will be available in the coming days.
Game One
BW (29-8, 14-3 OAC) was led by senior All-OAC outfielder Vincent Capolupo (Kenmore, N.Y./St. Joseph's Collegiate) who went 2-for-4 with two singles and a walk.
Scoring Plays
- JCU struck first as junior infielder Joe Olsavsky came across to score on a wild pitch in the first inning.
- The Blue Streaks doubled their lead in the top of the second on a sacrifice fly by sophomore infielder Jack Harmon.
- Olsavasky gave JCU a 3-0 lead with a solo home run in the fifth inning.
- JCU added an insurance run in the ninth, as Olsavsky sent an RBI single through the left side.
- BW cracked the scoring column in the bottom of the ninth on a pinch-hit, two-out RBI single by sophomore outfielder Brandon Gelpi (Monroeville, Pa./Central Catholic) that brought the tying run to the plate.
On the Mound
- Senior Academic All-OAC left-handed pitcher Nik Baldis (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) got the start and went 5.2 innings, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks.
- Senior right-handed pitcher Garret McLeod (Medina) went 1.1 innings in relief, allowing no runs on just one hit.
- Sophomore right-handed pitcher Kade Swisher (Berea/Berea-Midpark) tossed the final two innings for BW and allowed one run on two hits while striking out two.
Game Two
BW (30-8, 15-3 OAC) was led by Capolupo and sophomore infielder Sean Kolenich (Parma/St. Edward) as both players went 2-for-4 in the nightcap. Eight Yellow Jackets recorded at least one hit, and five players recorded one RBI apiece to highlight an all-around team effort.
Scoring Plays
- BW opened the scoring in the second inning on an RBI single by junior catcher Mark Mohnickey, Jr. (North Ridgeville/St. Edward).
- Freshman infielder Matt Terzola (Uniontown/Archbishop Hoban) followed Mohnickey's RBI knock with an RBI double down the left field line, giving BW a 2-0 lead.
- Terzola came across on a JCU fielding error to make it a 3-0 game in the fifth.
- The next batter, senior Academic All-OAC utility Ryan Guggenheim (Solon), brought in another run with a sacrifice fly to left field.
- Senior All-OAC first baseman Alexis Castillo (Sunrise, Fla./The Sagemont School) capped a three-run fifth inning for the Yellow Jackets with an RBI groundout.
- JCU cut the lead to 5-3 on a three-run home run by sophomore outfielder Sean Connolly.
- Senior All-American infielder Luke Vonderhaar (New Breman) added an insurance run with a two-out RBI double in the bottom of the seventh.
- The Blue Streaks pulled within two on an RBI double by Olsavsky in the top of the ninth.
- Olsavsky then scored on a wild pitch to make it a 6-5 game, but no other JCU players would reach base in the inning as BW closed out their first outright OAC regular season title in 37 years.
On the Mound
- Senior right-handed pitcher Garrett Miller (McMurray, Pa.) got the start and the win, going 5.1 innings while allowing three runs, four hits, and striking out six to improve to 8-0 this season.
- Senior All-OAC right-handed pitcher Dawson Gabe (Lawrence, Ind.) picked up the save after tossing 3.2 innings in relief, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out seven.
Up Next
Before returning to the Fisher Field for next week's OAC tournament, the Yellow Jackets will close out the regular season on Sunday, May 7, with a single non-conference contest at The College of Wooster. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. at Art Murray Field.
