Scots, Spartans Split on Saturday at Nobby's Ballpark

Sophomore first baseman Dane Camphausen hit two homers, the top four hitters in The College of Wooster's lineup went a combined 10-for-23 with 11 RBI and seven runs scored, and the Fighting Scots' baseball team opened a four-game weekend set against Case Western Reserve University with a 13-6 win on Saturday afternoon at Nobby's Ballpark in Cleveland, Ohio. The Spartans bounced back to take game two from the Scots 7-2.

Camphausen, the reigning North Coast Athletic Conference Athlete of the Week, continued his torrid month with a leadoff homer in the second inning. That set the stage for a five-run inning, as the Scots (23-10) chased Spartan (19-9) ace Nick Denove from the hill before inning's end. Senior second baseman Gabe Sherman followed Camphausen's blast with a single and stolen base, and he later scored on a passed ball. Junior center fielder Ben Gbur stroked a two-run double into the alley in left, and junior right fielder Ben Hines legged out an infield single, with Gbur touching home for the Scots' fifth run of the inning.

Two wild pitches in the third enabled CWRU to pull within 5-4, but Wooster answered back with a two-spot in the fourth. Camphausen was a focal point in that frame with a double to left center, with Hines, who led off the frame with a single, scoring on the play. Next, CWRU relief pitcher Tony Smodilla threw the ball away on a pickoff attempt, with that error giving junior shortstop Tyler Chumita more than ample time to score from third.

First-year designated hitter Eli Westrick stroked a leadoff single to right in the seventh, during which Wooster broke the game open with a four-run frame. After junior catcher Alex Gasper reached via a single to left field, Chumita upped his RBI count to three with a two-run single that was followed by Camphausen's second round-tripper of the game.

Wooster added an insurance run in the ninth when Chumita reached on a fielder's choice. Hines, who placed his team-leading fifth triple of the season into the right field corner, scored on the play.

Senior Evan Faxon improved to 5-1 on the season. He allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits in five innings. Junior Mitchell Reardon worked two scoreless frames, while striking out two before giving way to sophomore Ethan Samangy and junior Dylan Carr, who allowed a run in their respective inning of work.

Hines went 4-for-6 with two runs and a RBI out of the two-hole, while Chumita and Camphausen followed in the lineup with three hits, four RBI, and two runs apiece. Gbur rounded out the top four spots with a 2-for-6 game with two RBI and a run.

Trey Haley and Benjamin Stawicki had three hits apiece for the Spartans, and the rest of the lineup went a combined 4-for-29. Denove (4-3), who handcuffed Wooster to the tune of a five-hit complete game in 2020, allowed five runs on six hits in his 1 2/3 inning.

Speaking of five-hitters, Matt Levine (3-2) had just that in Saturday's nightcap. He handcuffed Wooster while allowing two unearned runs and he struck out six.

CWRU scored first with a three-run second, and the Spartans led 5-0 after three innings of play. In fact, CWRU had just two extra-base hits en route to building its 7-0 lead by the bottom of the sixth inning.

Senior designated hitter Noah Clement doubled to lead off the seventh, Sherman reached on a fielding error, and junior left fielder Dominic Stilliana was hit by a pitch to load the bases. From there, Clement and Sherman scored on fielder's choices, which enabled the Scots to close within 7-2.

Senior Jay DiBacco (6-1) suffered his first setback of the year. The right-hander allowed five runs on eight hits in three innings. Samangy returned to the hill in the fifth, and held the Spartans to one run on three hits the rest of the way.

Hines had two of Wooster's five hits. Kevin Mackenzie was the offensive standout for CWRU with a 2-for-4 line with two RBI and a run scored.

Wooster and CWRU are back at it at Nobby's Ballpark on Sunday, May 16, with first pitch set for 1 p.m.