Matt Barnes

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio – The College of Wooster scored in five of the first seven innings, including four runs during the sixth, to steadily pull away from Denison University 12-2 Friday in the winners' bracket game of the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament, being held at VA Memorial Stadium.

Wooster (33-7) is now one victory away from extending its league record to 13 NCAC championships, as the Fighting Scots will play for another trophy on Saturday against an opponent to be determined.

Ahead 4-1 going into the sixth, Michael Wellstead kick started Wooster's biggest inning of the day by beating out a grounder to shortstop. Chris Wood then successfully executed a sacrifice bunt – one of four on the day for the Scots, with Wellstead recording the other three. Shane Swearingen brought Wellstead the rest of the way with a sharply-hit single to left field and Matthew Johnson followed with a hard liner that sliced safely into centerfield.

The biggest hit of the inning, though, came from Stu Beath, who delivered a two-out, two-run double into right-center, just beyond the reach of the centerfielder, which made it a 7-1 score. Matt Groezinger greeted a relief pitcher with a single up the middle, plating Beath before Denison (22-17) could get out of the inning.

The 8-1 lead was more than enough for Wooster starter Matt Barnes, who worked into the eighth inning. Overall, Barnes totaled 7.0 innings, during which he gave up the one run on nine hits and struck out six, as he improved to 6-2.

Johnson got the game started by driving the third pitch over the right-center field fence for his 11th homer this season.

The Scots extended their early lead to 3-0 in the top of the second, as Greg Van Horn opened the frame with a single, Zack Vesco drew a hit by pitch, and after Wellstead advanced them a base, Wood singled through the left side for a run. Swearingen brought home Vesco on a fielder's choice play.

Aidan Lucas homered to lead off the bottom of the second for the Big Red's first run, but Barnes responded by stranding runners in scoring position during the second, third, and fifth innings.

Wooster's fifth run was an unearned one in the fifth inning, and after breaking the game open in the sixth, it added another single tally in the seventh on a Swearingen double to right-center.

Swearingen finished the day with a team-best three RBI, and Johnson and Van Horn had three hits apiece, going 3-for-6 and 3-for-5, respectively, to lead the way.

Game time for Saturday's "first" championship game is set for 1 p.m. If the Scots win that, the tourney will be over. If not, the two teams will stay on the field and play a winner-take-all game.