Scots Start Conference Play with Sweep of OWU

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster baseball team's three-run fifth inning moved the Fighting Scots ahead of Ohio Wesleyan University in Saturday's 15-12 win at Art Murray Field. Later, junior first baseman Ryan Kramer and senior left fielder Nick Pett hit back-to-back homers for the second time this week in a 13-3 game-two rout.

Sophomore third baseman Zack Barienbrock's RBI single up the middle broke Saturday's 10-10 tie and scored first-year shortstop Luke Rizzo, who led off the fifth with a single to center. Later, Pett roped a double down the right field line, scoring Barienbrock. Wooster's (12-10, 2-0 North Coast Athletic Conference) lead grew to 13-10 on a wild pitch.

Pickoffs aided Wooster's efforts keeping Ohio Wesleyan (7-12, 0-2 NCAC) at bay down the stretch. Sophomore Ben Tarpey caught Ohio Wesleyan's Zane Vitense too far off first for the second out of the sixth inning. In the seventh, Carter Vilevac wandered too far on his secondary lead, resulting in a tailor-made pickoff for junior catcher Colin Leslie.

Wooster tacked on a pair of runs in the sixth. Senior center fielder Leo Widtmann knocked a single through the right side that made it 15-10. Earlier, Wooster scored on a bases-loaded fielder's choice.

A wild second inning saw the teams combine for 11 runs. Wooster emerged with an 8-5 lead when it was said and done. Pett's two-run single to center made it 7-5. Senior right fielder Alex Gerdenich then lifted a sacrifice fly out to just shy of the right field warning track for the final run of the inning.

First-year James MacMillan scored his first collegiate win with 1 1/3 innings of relief. The left-hander allowed two runs on five hits. Sophomore Constantine Vernadakis collected the three-inning save. The right-hander allowed a run on four hits and struck out two. He worked a one-two-three eighth inning, during which both strikeouts were recorded.

Nate Cory was the game-one loser. He fell to 1-1 after allowing three runs on four hits in 2 2/3 innings.

Wooster answered Ohio Wesleyan's three-run fifth inning with three runs of its own in the nightcap. Barienbrock and Kramer started the frame with consecutive doubles. Later, Kramer scored on a throwing error from the outfield by simply wanting the run more than Ohio Wesleyan pitcher Michael Franckhauser's effort tracking down the errant throw. Rizzo's high chopper off the turf brought in the third run.

Wooster claimed a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Junior designated hitter Nathaniel Huxtable lifted a sacrifice fly to the outfield for the game's first run. Another Rizzo infield single made it 2-0.

Wooster's five-run seventh led to the conference's 10-run rule kicking in. Kramer's fifth homer of the year left the park in left center, then Pett blasted a first-pitch round tripper to right field.

First-year Dame Frayne (2-1) started and allowed three runs on seven hits in five innings. Senior Thomas Gfell worked two scoreless innings of relief.

Ohio Wesleyan's Hank Holman (0-3) allowed six runs on seven hits in four innings.

Pett had a day, going 5-for-8 with six RBI, three runs, two doubles, and the homer. Barienbrock and Rizzo combined to go 11-for-17 with eight runs, six RBI and six doubles.

Ryan Duckworth led Ohio Wesleyan, finishing 5-for-9 with four RBI, two runs scored, and a homer.

Wooster, winners of seven straight, plays at Oberlin College (7-12, 0-0 NCAC) in a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 1. First pitch is set for noon.