WOOSTER, Ohio – Sophomore first baseman Ryan Kramer blasted his 10th home run of the season and fourth of the week during Saturday's North Coast Athletic Conference doubleheader between The College of Wooster baseball team and second-ranked Denison University. The Big Red pulled away late for a 16-7 game-one win, then scored early en route to a 10-6 game-two victory.
Wooster (13-13, 3-5 NCAC) first-year first baseman Zack Barienbrock tied Saturday's opener at seven in the bottom of the seventh inning with a three-run homer. The first-year's second collegiate round-tripper followed a Kramer single up the middle and a walk issued to junior third baseman Nick Pett.
The Scots struck first Saturday, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Pett's two-run homer over the L.C. Boles Memorial Golf Course's clubhouse made it a 3-0 game. Prior to the homer, senior shortstop Eli Westrick smashed a double to the right center fence and Kramer placed a single into left field.
Denison (24-3, 7-1 NCAC) powered ahead in third inning, 5-3. Big Red outfielder Jake Welsch parked a three-run homer over the right field fence, and earlier, Eric Colaco lifted out a solo shot down the right field line. The Big Red took the lead for good on Jack Lutte's eighth-inning sacrifice fly. That scored pinch runner Bobby Haarde.
Senior Corey Knauf started for Wooster and allowed seven runs on 11 hits in 6 2/3 innings. First-year Constantine Vernadakis (0-1) took the loss, allowing five runs on three hits in two innings.
Manny Nager moved to 2-1 with the game-one win. Nager allowed a run on two hits in two-thirds of an inning. George Viebrock struck out four in two innings of scoreless relief for his third save on the spring.
Denison jumped out to a 3-0 lead in game two, scoring on Max Fishbein's sacrifice fly, Cade Nowik's single to right field, and Colin Ravin's single to right field. The Big Red tried to push for more, but sophomore catcher Nathaniel Huxtable threw out Ravin trying to steal to end the first inning.
Wooster scored its first game-two run on senior left fielder Bryn Langley's second-inning single up the middle. Leading up to the RBI knock, sophomore second baseman Andrew McGowan reached on an infield single and moved up to second on a walk drawn by sophomore center fielder John Panstares.
Barienbrock hit his second homer of the day in the third inning, while Panstares joined in on the homer fest come the fourth.
Denison threatened to put game two away early in the seventh. Wooster did not let that happen, as Westrick had the return throw back to Huxtable in time for an out at the plate on a Denison double steal attempt.
Wooster scored twice more in the nightcap on Kramer's two-run single to right field in the seventh inning. Junior right fielder Ben Carroll walked to start the inning and Westrick singled through the right side of the infield once the lineup turned over.
Peter Lemke's record ran to 5-0 after allowing one run on three hits in three innings of relief.
Sophomore Devin Anthony (3-1) returned to action and allowed six runs on five hits in 2 1/3 innings. First-year Noah Kasper locked Denison down over the final two innings and allowed just one hit while striking out two.
Wooster hitters were led by Kramer, who went 5-for-9 with four RBI, three runs scored, and a homer over the two games. Barienbrock's big day saw a 5-for-10 showing with five RBI, two homers, and two runs scored.
Noah Leib, who went 6-for-6 in game one with three doubles, ended the day 8-for-10 with seven runs scored and three RBI. Eric Colaco added a 7-for-11 afternoon with six runs scored, five RBI, and three doubles.
Next, Wooster plays at Ohio Wesleyan University (13-12, 3-5 NCAC) in a Wednesday, April 17 doubleheader. First pitch is set for noon.