WOOSTER, Ohio – Adrian College rallied back to spoil The College of Wooster baseball team's senior day with a five-run ninth inning to take an 8-7 win on Sunday afternoon at Art Murray Field.
Junior second baseman Nick Pett powered Wooster's (13-18) offense with two home runs, and the Fighting Scots had strong pitching and defense for eight innings of the game.
Pett's eighth home run of the year pulled Wooster ahead 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning. That homer was a two-run shot and it scored sophomore designated hitter Ryan Kramer, who led off the inning with a walk. The Scots' second baseman put Wooster on the board with a solo homer to right field in the third inning.
Sophomore Jack Spring started and fired seven strong innings, allowing three runs on six hits. Spring struck out seven and was dominant early with two strikeouts in the second. In the third, the right-hander snatched a comebacker and retired Brendan Willadsen at first base. First-year first baseman Zack Barienbrock fired the ball to first-year catcher Sam Calcut, who tagged out Rolando Jimenez at the plate on the back end of the double play.
In the seventh inning, first-year third baseman Jay Hanzie made a diving catch on a leadoff bunt attempt off Jimenez's bat. After a one-out walk, Spring found the pitcher's best friend with an inning-ending double play rolled to senior shortstop Eli Westrick.
Calcut's RBI single pulled Wooster within 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning. Wildness on the mound from Adrian's Landon Kozlowski set up the scoring chance. Junior center fielder Leo Widtmann walked and sophomore left fielder John Panstares was hit bit a pitch, bumping Widtmann up to scoring position.
Wooster was poised to have the lead runner thrown out at third base on Jimenez's sacrifice bunt in the ninth, only to see the runner called safe. That play proved crucial, as Willadsen blooped in a tying single down the right field line and AJ Miranda drilled a massive three-run insurance homer out to center field.
Wooster was back within one during its last ups. Pett's third hit of the day was a double into the right field corner. Barienbrock followed with a single to center field.
Miranda went 2-for-4 with four RBI to lead Adrian's lineup.
Ambrose Horwath collected his first win. He allowed three runs on three hits in 1 1/3 innings. Sophomore Sammy De Maio took the loss, falling to 2-3. De Maio allowed three runs in an inning of work.
Next, Wooster takes on the University of Mount Union (22-10) at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 24 at Canal Park, home of the Akron RubberDucks.