Fighting Scots Overpower Terriers, 20-1 and 12-2

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster combined for 18 extra-base hits and 32 runs as the Fighting Scots swept past North Coast Athletic Conference East Division foe Hiram College by scores of 20-1 and 12-2 on Saturday afternoon at a cold and windy Art Murray Field.

With the wind blowing out, Torrey Stimson hit a solo homer to give Hiram (9-14, 0-8 NCAC East) the lead during the top of the first inning of the opener, but Wooster (17-7, 5-1 NCAC East) struck back with three-straight hits, including a two-run Eddie Reese double. Reese would score via a sacrifice fly for a 3-1 lead after one.

The Scots were just getting started offensively, as they put five-spots on the board in the third, fourth, and fifth innings. All five runs during the third came after two outs had been recorded, with the rally capped by Bryan Miller's two-score base knock.

In the fourth, Reese became the first player to clear the newly-installed, 24-foot fence with a batter's eye background in straightaway center, as he clubbed a towering two-run home run. Two batters later, Craig Day hit one high off the fence in center for a two-bagger, and next, Johnathan Ray registered a rare two-run sacrifice fly.

That was more than enough offense for Wooster starter Keenan White. After the first-inning home run, White settled in and tossed a complete-game, seven-hitter with 11 strikeouts, tied for the second-most in his career, as he extended his perfect record (6-0).

Game two played out similarly, with the Terriers scoring a single run during the first, then the Scots answering with three in the bottom of the first, followed by two in both the second and third innings to build a comfortable lead.

Jarrod Mancine led off the nightcap by cracking the first home run of his Wooster career, and with one out, Reese sent a solo shot off the golf clubhouse beyond the right-center fence for a 2-1 advantage. The Scots added one more on a sacrifice fly before the inning was up.

In the second, Ryan Miner legged out a double after grounding a ball past the third baseman and down the left-field line, John McLain drove a double off the wall in left, and Reese tripled.

The two-run third inning was highlighted by a Jake Zeek triple, as Wooster gained a 7-1 lead.

After Hiram plated one, the Scots put the game away with a four-run sixth that started with four consecutive extra-base hits – another Miner two-bagger, a triple by Mancine, another McLain double, and Reese's second homer off the roof of the golf clubhouse.

On the mound, Matt Felvey threw the first complete game of his career, yielding one earned run on seven hits, and he evened his record to 2-2.

Overall, Mancine, Reese, and Miner led Wooster's hit parade with five apiece, as they went 5-for-8 with two RBI, 5-for-7 with eight RBI, and 5-for-5, respectively.

The Scots and Terriers will be back at it on Sunday with another doubleheader slated for a noon start at Art Murray Field.