Derek Wyman

Eddie Reese

WOOSTER, Ohio – With the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, Derek Wyman hit a sharp-single about six feet inside the left-field line, scoring pinch runner Zach Stein and Michael Wellstead with the tying and winning runs, respectively, to lift The College of Wooster past Muskingum University 5-4 in Thursday's non-conference affair at Art Murray Field.

The lead changed three times during the final two innings alone. First, Wooster (19-11) gained its first advantage of the day when Zac Mathie led off the bottom of the eighth by clearing the fence in right field with his fourth home run this season. That broke a 2-2 tie.

In the top of the ninth, Muskingum (11-19) was down to its last out when Tyler Hardcastle delivered a two-run shot to the opposite field (right). It also marked Hardcastle's fourth homer, and  it came off of Fighting Scot closer Tyler Fugate, who wound up picking up the win (3-0) thanks to the offense's late heroics.

Michael DeBord drew a walk to start the ninth-inning rally, as did Wellstead. Then, leadoff hitter Eddie Reese laid down a bunt, likely a sacrifice attempt, however, it was so well placed, he beat it out for a single to load the bases with no outs. Next, Wyman lined one beyond the reach of the third baseman and the two runs easily scored for the second walk-off hit of the senior's career.

Prior to the eighth and ninth innings, both offenses had been relatively quiet. Muskingum led 2-0 through six, notching single tallies during the first and third while receiving six shutout innings from starter Wes Rataiczak.

Rataiczak's effort went for naught, though, as Wooster plated two runs off the first reliever it faced. During the seventh, Wellstead got to first on a one-out walk, followed by Reese lining a single into center. Wellstead beat a throw to third on the play, which also allowed Reese to trot into second base. Wellstead crossed home plate on a groundout and Reese scored on a two-out wild pitch to tie it.

On the afternoon, Reese accounted for three of the Scots' seven hits, going 3-for-5, and Wyman drove in three runs.

Wooster will be right back on Art Murray Field Friday at 1 p.m., as North Coast Athletic Conference foe Denison University (15-18, 7-5 NCAC) visits for a twinbill.