Wooster Knocks Around Ohio Wesleyan's Bullpen in Midweek Sweep

WOOSTER, Ohio – Early longballs and major damage done against Ohio Wesleyan University's bullpen snapped a rare cold stretch for The College of Wooster baseball team, which swept aside Ohio Wesleyan University 13-7 and 11-1 on Wednesday afternoon at Art Murray Field.

Senior right fielder Dean Brown connected on a leadoff homer to left field in the fourth inning to break up the scoreless game-one affair. First-year third baseman Andrew McGowan followed with a two-run blast later that inning, with his also leaving the park in left field.

Wooster (11-16, 6-4 North Coast Athletic Conference) answered each of Ohio Wesleyan's (14-14, 3-7 NCAC) scoring frames with more runs than the Battling Bishops scored. In the sixth, it was a 2-for-1 exchange, which junior shortstop Grant Mitchell's triple sending junior second baseman Eli Westrick around the bases. Mitchell, who scored on a wild pitch that made it 5-1, tied the program's single-season triples record with his eighth of the year, and he is the first Wooster player with eight three baggers in a year since All-American Frank Vance in 2015.

Four runs came across for Wooster in the seventh after Ohio Wesleyan pulled within 5-4 in the top of the frame. First-year catcher Colin Leslie's triple cleared bases that were full of Scots. Next, sophomore pinch hitter Alex Gerdenich lifted a sacrifice fly out to center field that scored Leslie.

Wooster put the game away in the eighth inning, getting to Mason Timko, who wound up with four runs pinned to his line without recording an out. First-year center fielder John Panstares connected on Wooster's third homer of the game, with his two-run shot exiting Art Murray just to the left of the batter eye. First-year first baseman Ryan Kramer's sacrifice fly scored senior left fielder Jack Whitehouse, who reached on a walk following an eight-pitch at bat. Sophomore pinch hitter Andy Heintz's double down the right field line scored Wooster's final run of the game.

First-year right-hander Devin Anthony ran his record to 4-0 with six innings of work, during which he allowed four runs on six hits and struck out seven. Parker Tomlin saw his record move to 3-4 after allowing four runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings. Five OWU relief pitchers were saddled with nine runs in 3 1/3 innings.

Wooster's defense was sizzling in the nightcap. Panstares barehanded a bloop single in the fourth and fired a strike home to cut down Edrick Padilla and keep Ohio Wesleyan off the board for the frame. In the sixth, Mitchell raced back on a blooper and made the diving catch after ranging at least 40 feet into center field. An inning later, the shortstop tracked down a skied fly ball down the left field line for the first out of the frame.

Offensively, Wooster took control in the second inning. Whitehouse's triple to left center made it a 2-1 game, and Westrick smacked an opposite-field double that upped the lead to 3-1. In the third inning, Kramer's sacrifice fly upped the ante to 4-1, while in the fifth inning, Kramer's single to right field scored sophomore designated hitter Leo Widtmann, who doubled to right field with two outs.

Self-inflictions by Ohio Wesleyan put game two away early, as Wooster forced the 10-run ahead stoppage with a six-spot in the seventh. Ohio Wesleyan had two errors, issued four walks, and hit a batter, all while not recording an out. The lone hit in the frame came when Westrick smoked a two-run single through the left side of the infield.

Senior Owen Barnard went to 2-0 after allowing a run on four hits in five innings. Senior Christian Johnston went the rest of the away, allowing a hit in two innings of shutout relief. Hank Holman took the loss, falling to 1-2. He allowed four runs on six hits in four innings. Wooster scored seven runs off the Battling Bishops' bullpen in two-plus innings.

While Kramer was just 2-for-4 on the day, he did plenty of damage with a team-leading four RBI. The first-year scored three times, drew three walks, and had two sacrifice flies. Westrick's four hits led Wooster, while Brown reached base safely six times and came around to score five runs.

D.J. Neff was the lone OWU position player with three hits on the day.

Next, Wooster heads to DePauw University (10-17, 3-5 NCAC) for a noon doubleheader on Saturday, April 22.