Wooster ace Michael Houdek, who improved to 7-1, was in command throughout most of his seven-plus innings of action Thursday. (photo courtesy of Mark Beckenbach)

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio – Michael Houdek limited Ohio Wesleyan University to two hits through seven-plus innings of work and The College of Wooster's offense broke the game open with a five-run sixth, as the Fighting Scots won the opener of the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament by a final score of 12-3 on Thursday at VA Memorial Stadium.

Wooster (34-7) will play a winners' bracket game later in the day Thursday.

With the Scots ahead 3-2, John McLain began the bottom of the sixth by hitting one into left-center and legging out a triple, then Jake Kail followed with an RBI double into the right-center gap. Drew Tornow moved Kail to third via a sacrifice bunt, and after a walk, Kenny Reckart also bunted. While Kail scored, Ohio Wesleyan (27-12) was unable to make the defensive play at first, putting runners on first and second with one out as the score moved to 5-2.

Jake Fling singled up the middle to plate another run, and later in the frame, Wooster loaded the bases for Jamie Lackner, who lined a two-out, two-run single into left field for an 8-2 advantage.

That was plenty of offensive support for Houdek, who improved to 7-1 on the year. A Dalton Martz double keyed the Bishops' two-run third inning, but other than that, the sophomore southpaw was in command. He yielded just one other hit – a single – and one walk, while striking out four before being removed one batter into the eighth.

Hank Schlueter preserved the outcome, working the last two innings and striking out four along the way.

In the first inning, the Scots took advantage of a series of free passes – hit by pitches of Fling and Frank Vance and a Lackner walk – when McLain roped a two-run single into center.

After Ohio Wesleyan tied it at two in the third, Wooster manufactured a run during the fifth inning, again helped by a free pass as Ryan Ostendorf was hit by a pitch. Reckart advanced him via his first sacrifice bunt, and after a groundout moved him up another base, Vance hit one deep in the hole for an RBI single and a lead that the Scots would build upon.

Recording two-hit days for Wooster were Fling (2-for-4), Vance (2-for-3), Lackner (2-for-4), McLain (2-for-4), and Reckart (2-for-3). Reckart produced a game-high three RBI.