Bryan Miller

Steve Hagen

WOOSTER, Ohio – Steve Hagen threw the first complete-game shutout of his career, a six-hitter, during the opener to lead The College of Wooster to a 4-0 victory over Wabash College, then the Fighting Scots completed the non-league sweep with a hard-fought 5-2 win during the second game Saturday afternoon at Art Murray Field.

In game one, almost all of the offense came on one swing, as Eddie Reese delivered a three-run homer just beyond the fence in left-center field for Wooster (13-6). The key hit came in the bottom of the third after Bryan Miller knocked a one-out single up the middle and John McLain drew a two-out walk.

The Scots did add an insurance run during the sixth inning, with Craig Day dropping an RBI single into centerfield following a couple of errors by Wabash (8-12).

After stranding runners in scoring position during the first and third innings, Hagen was in command the rest of the way. He struck out 10 without issuing a walk, threw less than 100 pitches (94), and all six hits allowed were singles. Only one leadoff batter reached, the eighth inning, and Hagen quickly erased that with a 4-6-3 double play.

The nightcap's first three innings were scoreless. During the bottom of the fourth, the Scots got going with a little assistance, as Reese started the frame with a hard grounder that the shortstop was unable to handle and Brendan Taylor sent the next pitch into the left-center gap for a double. Next, Frank Vance popped a ball up just beyond the infield, however, the shortstop dropped it, allowing Reese to score the initial run. After Cal Thomay laid down a bunt single to load the bases, Shane Gallagher plated Taylor via a sacrifice fly for the 2-0 lead.

The Little Giants got on the scoreboard for the first time all day in the sixth, only to see Wooster answer that tally during the bottom of the inning. The Scots loaded the bases, which included Thomay and Ryan Miner singles, then Jarrod Mancine took a four-pitch walk for a 3-1 advantage.

The seventh inning proved to be pivotal. After Wabash pulled within one again (3-2), Billy Farrow came in as a pinch hitter during the home half of the frame and launched a two-out, two-run homer just left of straightaway center, and Wooster had a more comfortable three-goal margin to work with.

The Scots closed it out efficiently, with Zach Klein recording a save, his third of the season. Starter Kyle Koski picked up the win (3-2), working 5.2 and yielding just one run on six hits with four strikeouts.

Offensively for the day, Miller had a team-high three hits (3-for-6) plus a hit by pitch and a stolen base.

Wooster will play another doubleheader on Sunday, traveling to Case Western Reserve University (14-6).