Wooster Denies DePauw Steal of Home in Ninth, Falls in Extras

WOOSTER, Ohio – College of Wooster sophomore pitcher Sammy De Maio caught the go-ahead run stealing at the plate in the top of the ninth inning, then DePauw University third baseman Grady Johnson hit the go-ahead three-run homer in the top of the 11th inning of the Tigers' 13-10 game-two win on Saturday afternoon at Art Murray Field. DePauw won game one 13-1.

DePauw (17-10, 7-1 North Coast Athletic Conference) second baseman Cameron Macon broke for second base with two outs in the top of the ninth inning. De Maio stepped off the rubber, spun around, and fired a strike to sophomore catcher Nathaniel Huxtable to get Max Bond stealing on the back end of the play. Huxtable's stellar defensive day continued in the top of the 10th inning when the catcher threw out would-be base stealer Danny Glimco at second base.

Wooster (13-17, 3-9 NCAC) first-year pitcher Zack Barienbrock (0-1) could not escape after hitting a pair of DePauw batters in the top of the 11th. The right-hander did work out of a 10th-inning jam with an inning-ending fielder's choice rolled the way of senior shortstop Eli Westrick. The Scots had the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the 11th inning, thanks to walks issued to junior second baseman Andy Heintz and junior right fielder Alex Gerdenich. DePauw right-hander Charlie Hawk (2-2) rebounded with the game-ending strikeout.

The Tigers caught up to the Fighting Scots in the top of the eighth inning with a four-spot. Glimco's two-run double to center pulled DePauw within 10-9. The tying run scored on first baseman Carter Knoll's single to center field that fell in.

Earlier, Wooster grabbed hold of the lead with a five-run second in the nightcap. Sophomore first baseman Ryan Kramer launched his 11th homer of the season, and the two-run shot exited Art Murray in right center. Barienbrock's RBI triple later in the second made it 7-2.

DePauw threatened in the top of the seventh inning, loading the bases before first-year Michael Scarpelli was able to get Ty Sucher to line out to Gerdenich. Gerdenich's ability to track down the liner kept his pitching line stellar. The junior entered as a pitcher in the fourth inning and worked 3 2/3 scoreless innings of relief before moving to the outfield.

In game one, Westrick led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a triple into the right field corner. The Scots' leadoff hitter scored when Kramer lifted a sacrifice fly into left center.

DePauw senior left-hander Michael Vallone (6-0) proved why he is arguably the top pitcher within the NCAC, striking out 14 in the complete-game effort. Vallone scattered three hits, two of which were hit by junior left fielder Leo Widtmann. Widtmann's bunt single stayed just inside the third base line in the third inning, and the lefty led off the sixth inning with a double down the right field line.

Senior Corey Knauf (4-3) started and allowed eight runs on six hits in 3 1/3 innings. Wooster's defensive highlight came in the sixth inning when sophomore Huxtable alertly tagged both Sucher and Hunter Hrbek during a rundown. Both Tigers wound up at third base. Sucher was out on the play due to Hrbek retreating past third base, resulting in a trailing running being ahead of the lead runner. Additionally, since Hrbek was off the base at the time, he was out on Huxtable's tag.

Kramer ended the day 3-for-6 with four RBI and two runs scored. Barienbrock, Panstares, and Widtmann combined for nine hits.

Glimco led the Tigers' lineup. The right fielder was 4-for-7 with five runs scored, five RBI, and three doubles. Hrbek went 4-for-7 with five RBI, two runs scored, and a homer.

Next, Wooster hosts Adrian College (19-11) in a single game at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 21. Prior to the game, Wooster will recognize its senior class.