Michael Houdek

Kenny Reckart

Kenny Reckart lined a single into right field to break a 4-4 tie during the top of the sixth inning and The College of Wooster tacked on an insurance run in the seventh to take game one at Kenyon College 6-4, but the Lords turned the tables in the nightcap, scoring a pair of late runs for a 6-4 victory and split of the North Coast Athletic Conference East Division doubleheader Saturday at Gambier, Ohio.

Deadlocked at four in the late stages of the opener, Tyler Schuch started the sixth with an infield single and reached second via a throwing error. Ian Vernier laid a bunt down the first-base line to sacrifice Schuch to third base, then Reckart delivered the first pitch of his at bat into right to give Wooster (16-3, 4-2 NCAC East) a 5-4 lead.

A leadoff double by Frank Vance in the seventh led to another tally, and Michael Whitaker closed out Kenyon (14-8, 4-2 NCAC East) for his fourth save of the season. Whitaker stranded the tying runs on first and second base by striking out the final hitter on three pitches.

Scot ace Michael Houdek improved to 3-0. After giving up three earned runs (one unearned) the first two innings, the sophomore southpaw got the last 11 batters out he faced while pitching scoreless third, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. Houdek struck out six with just one walk allowed.

Wooster's early offense was keyed by Schuch, who singled in two runs during the first and laced a leadoff double in the fourth which resulted in another score.

In the second game, the Scots grabbed a 2-0 lead when Jamie Lackner smashed a two-run shot to right-center – his third home run in as many games and eighth of the year – in the top of the third.

The Lords tied it up in their half of the third and they added single tallies during the fourth and fifth to take a 4-2 advantage.

Reckart began a Wooster rally in the seventh with a one-out single, then Drew Fling walked on four pitches. The Scots then loaded the bases via a fielder's choice play and Vance was hit by a pitch to send in one run. Lackner followed with an RBI groundout to even the score at four, but Kenyon got out of the inning.

The Lords' winning margin was courtesy of two runs during the bottom of the eighth, as they scattered three singles and took advantage of two errors.

Wooster almost came back, as with one out in the ninth, Fling and Joey Gilmore hit back-to-back singles, but Kenyon escaped with a game-ending double play.

Fling (3-for-8) and Reckart (3-for-6) paced the Scots at the plate, each recording three hits on the day, while the Lords' Matt Von Roemer (4-for-9) led all players with four base knocks.

The two teams will complete their four-game series Easter Sunday, with another twinbill starting at 1 p.m.