Offense Gets Going Late in Loss at Spalding

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The College of Wooster baseball team's offense clicked late, but the Fighting Scots could not overcome an early hole in Friday's 11-8 loss at Spalding University.

Sophomore second baseman Andrew McGowan's three-run homer in the top of the seventh inning was the first big Wooster (0-1) hit of the afternoon, as Spalding (3-1) starter Garrett Mathews (1-0) worked five shutout innings, during which he struck out 11. Senior left fielder Bryn Langley followed with a double to center and he and sophomore center fielder John Panstares scored when senior shortstop Eli Westrick roped a double down the left field line.

Spalding added to its cushion in the bottom of the frame. Two Golden Eagles touched home when Caleb Coffey blasted a double into left. Those runs made the game 11-6.

Sophomore first baseman Ryan Kramer's solo shot in the top of the ninth inning made it a three-run game. An inning prior, junior third baseman Nick Pett scored on a wild pitch.    

McGowan and sophomore catcher Colin Leslie tallied three hits each to lead Wooster. Westrick had the other multi-hit game for the Scots. McGowan knocked in three runs, Westrick had two RBI, while sophomore right fielder Alex Gerdenich and Pett scored twice.

Senior Corey Knauf (0-1) took the loss. He allowed seven runs on eight hits on five innings. Defensively, Leslie did his part, throwing out two of three would-be base stealers.

The top four of Spalding's lineup combined to go 11-for-18 with eight runs, and five RBI. Cleanup bat Hunter Strong led the group, finishing 4-for-4 with four runs and two RBI. Strong started the game by taking Knauf deep for a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning.

Spalding outhit Wooster 17-12.

Wooster plays twice on Saturday, taking on Spalding at 11 a.m. before squaring off with Otterbein University (0-0) at 2:30 p.m.