Chris Wood

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster scored in each of the first four innings, including a four-run fourth, which propelled it to a comfortable 10-2 victory over Denison University in non-league action Thursday afternoon at Art Murray Field.

Wooster (27-7) put up single tallies during the first, second, and third innings, with leadoff doubles by Matthew Johnson in both the first and third setting up a pair of Stu Beath sacrifice flies, as part of an early 3-2 advantage and then started pulling away in the fourth.

That frame also opened with a two-bagger, this time from Greg Van Horn, and he came around when Zack Vesco followed with a sharp single right up the middle. After a walk, Chris Wood delivered an RBI single to push the lead to 5-2 and knocked out the starting pitcher from Denison (21-16) in the process. Later, with two outs, Luke Sutton provided the game's key hit when a slow roller found its way just out of the reach of the second baseman through the right side for a two-run single.

Ahead 7-2, the Fighting Scots were rarely threatened by the Big Red the rest of the way. In relief of starter Keenan White, Tanner Hall worked 2.2 scoreless innings for the win (3-1) and Nate Gemberling-Johnson held Denison off the scoreboard the final 2.1. Hall and Gemberling-Johnson combined to give up just two hits.

Wooster's offense eventually tacked on three more runs in the seventh inning, which included Wood's third RBI single of the day.

Wood went a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBI and a walk to lead the way, while Johnson was the other Scot to have a multi-hit outing (2-for-5).

Next, Wooster is slated to play a four-game series with North Coast Athletic Conference East Division foe Hiram College (6-25, 1-11 NCAC East) this weekend. They will play doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday, beginning at 1 p.m. each day.