Jamie Lackner

Cal Miller

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio – The College of Wooster was down to its last strike in the top of the ninth when Jamie Lackner belted an RBI double into the right-center gap to tie Ohio Wesleyan University 4-4 and Cal Miller singled in Tyler Schuch for the game-winner in the 10th, as the Fighting Scots advanced to the championship round of the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament with a 5-4 victory Friday at VA Memorial Stadium.

Wooster (35-8) now will attempt to beat Oberlin College (17-25) twice, with the "first" championship game starting at 2 p.m.

With two outs and the tying run on third base – Ryan Ostendorf, who had reached on a "swinging bunt" single – in the ninth, Lackner faced an 0-2 count. The Scots' clean-up hitter came through in the clutch, driving one the other way that bounced once and hit the wall in right-center to even the scoreboard.

Michael Whitaker worked his way around Ohio Wesleyan's (28-13) leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth, stranding him at third base as he struck out a pinch hitter to send the game to extras.

During the top of the 10th, Wooster took advantage of a break, as a Schuch foul ball was dropped and he turned on the next pitch for a double into left-center. Joey Gilmore bunted him to third and then Miller, with the infield playing in, hit a sharp ball up the middle that glanced off the second baseman's glove, allowing Schuch to come in and give the Scots a 5-4 lead.

Whitaker made quick work of the Battling Bishops' 3-4-5 hitters in the bottom of the 10th, as Wooster's closer improved to 5-2 on the season.

The Scots' first rally began in the seventh. Facing a 3-0 deficit, Jacob Solomon led off with a single and Schuch followed with another. Ian Vernier moved them into scoring position via a sacrifice bunt, pinch hitter Kevin Hagen took a four-pitch walk to load the bases, and Jake Fling was grazed by a pitch for their initial run.

Next, Ostendorf dropped a single just beyond the shortstop's reach and into left-center and Frank Vance tied it on a sacrifice fly into left field.

Ohio Wesleyan went back ahead 4-3 during the bottom of the eighth, keyed by a Steven Moore double, but it could not finish off Wooster.

On the mound, the Scots received a quality start from Danny Reese, who allowed three runs on five hits through six innings and struck out four, while Schuch led all players with a 3-for-5 performance at the plate.