PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – The Baldwin Wallace University baseball team traveled to Port Charlotte, Fla. to compete in its 2022 Spring Break Trip. The Yellow Jackets kicked things off by defeating the Misericordia (Pa.) University Cougars in Centennial Park by a 12-11 final score.

BW (5-0) was led by senior All-Mideast Region shortstop Alex Ludwick (Brunswick/Padua Franciscan) as he went 3-5 from the plate with two runs, an RBI, and a stolen base. Junior left fielder Ryan Guggenheim (Solon) hit 3-5 with three RBIs and a run. 

Scoring Plays

• It was a scoreless two and a half innings for both teams until the Cougars notched three in the bottom of the third to get the early jump
• A three-run bomb by senior catcher JT Mazula (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) in the top of fourth over the left field fence tied the game 3-3
• The Yellow Jackets tallied four more in the fourth to go up 7-3, highlighted by two-run double by a two-run double by Guggenheim, and two one-run singles by senior All-OAC utility player Drew Wilson (Sagamore Hills/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) and Ludwick
• Misericordia tallied one in the bottom of the inning (7-4 BW)
• Two pitching errors by the Cougars gave BW two scores to go up 9-4
• A two-run homer by Misericordia brought the Yellow Jacket lead back to three runs, 9-6
• The Yellow Jackets tallied three in the top of the seventh, highlighted by a Guggenheim RBI single and an RBI single from junior designated hitter Bryce Holt (Richfield/Revere)
• The Cougars earned two runs in the bottom of the seventh to bring the BW advantage to just two runs (12-10)
• A pitching change for BW brought in Wilson as he closed out the seventh allowing just one run and notching a huge strikeout to end the inning (12-11 BW)
• It was a scoreless remaining two innings for either team with the Yellow Jackets coming to the bottom of the ninth, going three-and-out to clinch the big 12-11 victory

On the Mound

• Sophomore right hander Brendon Hink (Poland/Neshannock, Pa.) started on the mound for the Yellow Jackets, pitching 3.2 innings and totaling a strikeout and allowing the three-run homer in by the Cougars in the third
• Senior right hander Scott Kirchhoff (Toledo/Sylvania Northview) relieved, pitching 3.0 innings, posting two strikeouts and allowed six runs
• Junior right hander Matt Sabin (Mentor) allowed one run
• Senior right hander Wilson earned the win on the mound, moving to 3-0 this season, throwing 2.1 innings, totaling four strikeouts, and allowed no runs

The Yellow Jackets return to play tomorrow, March 6 as they face Alvernia (Pa.) University for the second game of the spring trip. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. at the Terry Park Sports Complex in Fort Myers, Fla.