Big Homers, Late Rally Run Wooster's Winning Streak to 11

GREENCASTLE, Ind. – Crooked-number home runs powered The College of Wooster baseball team's winning streak to double digits, then the Fighting Scots rallied late to sweep DePauw University 14-3 and 7-6 on Monday afternoon.

Junior first baseman Ryan Kramer led Wooster's (16-10, 6-0 North Coast Athletic Conference) charge with his second grand slam of the season in the second inning. The All-American's sixth homer of 2025 made it 6-2. He went on to finish game one a triple shy of his second cycle of the year. Kramer was an impressive 4-for-5 with six RBI and two runs scored. He doubled and scored on junior catcher Colin Leslie's single to center field in the first inning. In the fourth, he roped a two-run single to left center.

In the fifth inning, sophomore Zack Barienbrock provided the power with a three-run homer to left. The third baseman's second homer of the year upped Wooster's lead to 12-3.

Senior center fielder Leo Widtmann tacked on a two-run homer in the seventh inning. The round-tripper was his fourth of the year.

Strikeouts were first-year right-hander Dame Frayne's friend early. He logged five of his season-high nine over the first two innings. Frayne improved to 3-1 after allowing three runs on eight hits in five innings. First-year left-hander James MacMillan followed with two innings of hitless relief.

Wooster tied Monday's nightcap in the eighth inning. Senior left fielder Nick Pett walked to lead off the inning, stole second, and scored two wild pitches later to make it 5-5.

A throwing error by DePauw (7-17, 1-5 NCAC) allowed two Wooster runs to score in the ninth inning. Prior to the game-costing miscue, first-year shortstop Luke Rizzo was hit by a pitch and moved up to third when Widtmann poked a single through the right side of the infield. Widtmann moved into scoring position with his team-leading 11th stolen base of the year.

Drama ensued in the bottom of the ninth inning, as DePauw had runners on second and third with two outs before sophomore Michael Scarpelli got the called third strike to ring up Nate Heflin for the final out of the game.

Scarpelli ran his record to 5-1 on the year. He allowed an unearned run on three hits in three innings of work. Wooster's four pitchers combined to strike out 16 DePauw batters in game two. Eight of the strikeouts came from junior Jack Spring, who worked four innings of two-hit shutout baseball. Senior Thomas Gfell fired a one-two-three sixth inning.

Kramer went 6-for-10 with six RBI, three runs, and a homer over the doubleheader. Widtmann scored five times.

Drew Straub went 4-for-8 for DePauw. Charlie Hawk dropped his record to 0-4 in the opener. He surrendered eight runs on five hits in three innings. Finn O'Meara (0-2) took the loss in game two, allowing three runs in three innings.

Wooster's 11-game winning streak is the program's longest since the 2018 team had a 20-game one as part of a 40-10 season and NCAA Div. III World Series appearance.

Wooster is back in action on Saturday, April 12 for a noon doubleheader against Wittenberg University (16-5, 2-0 NCAC) at Art Murray Field.